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Does being bilingual make a difference?

Assembly_ReqdAssembly_Reqd member
in Special Needs

If you have a child who is having speech and behavior issues at school, is the fact that they speak another language at home with Mom and Dad going to skew any assessment they may perform?

This is what a friend of mine is being told by her school district. She is American and her DH is from another country. They speak their native language mostly at home. The child has lived here since he was a baby is now in 1st or 2nd grade. He already has an IEP for speech.

The way she described it to me is that they seem to write off his issues as a result of the second language. She thinks he should at least get some "points" for being bilingual. And, get this, the second language is Spanish (!) It's not like it is some weird off the wall language......I am encouraging her to get a full assessment of her DS outside of the school district.

I noticed spectrum behavoirs on him when he was four and we vacationed with them. (flapping, excitable, upset at change in routine, unable to process that he had hurt someone, clumsiness, fixation on one topic, etc) The school has been assessing him and so I kept my mouth shut. I finally told her my concerns yesterday and that she needed to get her DS fully assessed. I never felt it was the right time and since I wasn't a Mommy back them, I thought she wouldn't take my concerns seriously.

WAY 2 Cool 4 School


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Re: Does being bilingual make a difference?

  • susanmosleysusanmosley member

    I'm a bit confused by your question

    But I know this:

    1) the child should be evaluated in his primary language

    2) if he is in 1st or 2nd grade, the bilingualism should have no effect on his speech or behavior at school.  If a 7 year old is having difficultly in school, it is not likely a result of speaking two languages

    I think I am confused. 

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  • Assembly_ReqdAssembly_Reqd member

    1. I don't believe they are evaluating him in his primary language. My friend keeps telling them that the reason he has odd English sentence structure is because he is using spanish sentence structure. For example: "I love you" (Te quiero) translates literally to "You I love"

    2. Exactly! I tried to point this out to her. Good & appropriate social behavior is universal no matter what language one speaks. (Generally)

    I think she needs to specifically ask the school district to evaluate him for other issues than speech. She has also mentioned that the assistant principal at this school really rubs her the wrong way. I think maybe having an outside person evaluate him will make acceptance of a potential issue easier and then they can go back to the school ready to "hear" the issues her DS has in the educational setting.

    Perhaps it is just a case of the school waiting for her to come to the realization there is more going on than her DS being lost in translation. I assume they will not evaluate a child for other things unless the parent specifically asks for it.

    WAY 2 Cool 4 School


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  • Assembly_ReqdAssembly_Reqd member

    I was thinking the same thing. He has a younger sibling who is much easier to understand and have a conversation with. He doesn't seem to be having the same issues being bilingual.

    I don't believe they have requested a multifaceted evaluation. I think it is easier to blame the language and not look for an underlying issue.

    Her husband is very well educated and I get the impression that she is having diffuculty getting him "on board". I think maybe she was hoping it was a speach thing only. DH thinks that if they go to a Dr. they will put DS on drugs. They believe he is ADHD. I am not so sure that is his only issue. I tried to explain to her that an evaluation will highlight areas that need to be worked on with behavior therapy and perhaps if they intervene sooner, the issues may be dealt with that way instead of drugs. 

    I told her about how helpful everyone on here is and that she should come check out the board. She has three little ones and it is hard for her to get on the computer for more than an email check. I will tell her to use the protocol you suggested. Thanks! 

    WAY 2 Cool 4 School


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