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Characteristics of Spanish Speaking Populations

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Characteristics of Spanish Speaking Populations

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Given Luis's diverse background, it's important for a clinician and other professionals to understand the distinct characteristics of his community. This helps foster an inclusive environment and supportive relationship between the patient and clinician.

Spanish Culture

•High Context Culture

•Communication is less direct

•Emphasis on human relationships and non-verbal communication. (Facial expressions, body-language, eye-contact, gestures).

English

•Low Context Culture

•Communication is specific and detailed

•Poorer at decoding unspoken messages and body language.

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Syntax

Grammar: Spanish nouns are either masculine or feminine which greatly affect the choice of adjectives, articles, and verb conjugations (sentence structure). Whereas English nouns have both gendered and non-gendered alternatives.

Word Order: Focuses on subject-verb-object order. Similar to English, but allows more flexibility in word order.

Pragmatics

Rely on nonverbal cues and social context, rather than directly communication information.

Facial expression, eye-contact, space, use of silence, and touch.

Luis

Code-switch

Language skills vs gaps

SLP should use Spanish and English vocabulary for assessment/intervention.

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While some researchers believe that stuttering is more common in bilingual versus monolingual individuals, there is no data supporting that hypothesis.

Some families may believe bilingualism causes stutter; however, that is false.

Author Rosalee Shenker discussed the aspects of stuttering and stuttering in bilingual children.

Clinicians must evaluate language proficiency across all languages.

Cultural Diversity plays a significant role in assessment and treatment.

Lack of research on bilingualism and stuttering illustrates the cap in clinical guidelines, practices, and myths.

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Fluency Strategies of Spanish–English Bilinguals Who Stutter

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Fluency Strategies of Spanish–English Bilinguals Who Stutter

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Fluency Strategies of Spanish–English Bilinguals Who Stutter

This article illustrates techniques used to treat bilingual stuttering, primarily in English/Spanish individuals. Given Luis is bilingual and stuttering, these techniques may help.

Fluency Shaping – Replaces stuttered speech with fluent patterns by teaching them new speaking patterns. Preference of Clients.

Stuttering Modification - Focuses on directly managing and modifying stuttered speech by increasing awareness.

Focused Breathing

Author emphasized the need for further research of bilingual stuttering.

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Considerations:  Stuttering and the Assessment Process

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Considerations:  Stuttering and the Assessment Process

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Stuttering is a fluency disorder, that affects the flow, rhythm, and speed of speech.

There are various causes of stuttering, some of which include…

-Genetic

-Environment

-Language Skills

Collect language samples from conversations and reading exercises.

Calculate frequency and duration of disfluencies.

Analysis if disfluency is atypical or typical.

Detailed background history from family

Language Proficiency in each language & stuttering

Assessment  of all language skills (language, articulation, etc).

Atypical Disfluencies include…

Blocks

Prolongations

Sound/Syllable Repetitions

Broken Words

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Types of Intervention

Given Luis's diverse background and him being a bilingual speaker, a clinician may use the following evidence-based practices to treat his stuttering.

Fluency Shaping: Goal is to replace stuttered speech with fluent patterns.

Stuttering Modification: Reduces severity and helps the child gain more control in stuttering situations.

Desensitization: To improve child’s belief of stuttering and make them less afraid or frustrated.

Acceptance of Stuttering: Support groups, reduce negative beliefs, etc.

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Cultural Competence/Counseling
A clinician working with Luis and his family needs to be aware of the cultural background associated with Spanish-Speaking communities.
Facial expressions, eye contact, gestures, space, touch and non-verbal communication.

Intervention and Assessment Techniques
Assess language skills in both languages is essential. Given Luis is 4 years old he would likely benefit from a PLS 5 Assessment in English and Spanish.

Bilingual/Interpreter

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“The Way We Talk,” explores the personal and emotional journey of individuals who stutter. The film delves into the impact stuttering has on self-identity, relationships, and everyday communication. Through a deeply personal lens, Turner shares his own experiences with stuttering, blending them with stories from others who share the same challenge. The documentary examines the stigma surrounding stuttering, the frustration it can cause, and the supportive communities that help individuals navigate their struggles. It also touches on the science of stuttering, offering insights into its neurological and psychological underpinnings.

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It’s important to gain an accurate representation of Luis’s speech across all environments.

Developing language proficiency may present as stuttering, but it is not true stuttering.

Given Luis’s siblings have had history of stuttering, it is likely they will be supportive of speech-therapy and additional intervention.

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Medina, M. A., Pereira, T., et al (2019). Fluency Strategies of Spanish–English Bilinguals Who Stutter: A Thematic Analysis. Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, 4(5), 1062-1073.

Shenker, C. R. (2013). Bilingual Myth-Busters Series When Young Children who Stutter are Also Bilingual: Some Thoughts About Assessment and Treatment. Cultural and Linguistic Diversity, 20(1), 15-23.

Bilinguistics. (n.d). Speech Development in Spanish and English: What the differences mean to SLPs. https://bilinguistics.com/speech-development-in-spanish-and-english-2/

Bilinguistics. (n.d). Cultural Differences in Speech Therapy. https://bilinguistics.com/home-language-use/#:~:text=The%20Spanish%2Dspeaking%20culture%20is,Tomoeda%20%26%20Bayles%2C%202002).