ASHA ASHA Multicultural and Diversity Considerations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to ASHA, what is the distinction between a communication difference and a communication disorder?
- A difference reflects a variation from another language or dialect and is not a disorder; a disorder impairs communication within the individual's own community (Correct answer)
- A difference is a mild disorder, while a disorder is a severe impairment
- Both terms are interchangeable in clinical documentation
- A difference applies only to bilingual clients, while a disorder applies to monolingual clients
Correct answer: A difference reflects a variation from another language or dialect and is not a disorder; a disorder impairs communication within the individual's own community
ASHA defines a communication difference as a variation influenced by dialect, language, or culture, which should not be classified as a disorder if it does not impair functional communication within the person's own community.
Question 2: When assessing a bilingual child for a possible language disorder, which approach is recommended by ASHA?
- Dynamic assessment and evaluation in both languages (Correct answer)
- Testing only in the child's dominant language
- Using English-only standardized tests with age norms
- Relying exclusively on parent report in the child's home language
Correct answer: Dynamic assessment and evaluation in both languages
ASHA recommends evaluating bilingual individuals in both languages using dynamic, culturally, and linguistically appropriate tools to distinguish language difference from disorder.
Question 3: Which term refers to the systematic study of the sound patterns of a specific language or dialect?
- Phonology (Correct answer)
- Morphology
- Pragmatics
- Syntax
Correct answer: Phonology
Phonology is the branch of linguistics concerned with the sound systems and rules of a language, including how phonemes pattern and contrast.
Question 4: African American English (AAE) is best characterized as which of the following?
- A rule-governed linguistic system with distinct phonological, morphosyntactic, and pragmatic features (Correct answer)
- A disordered form of Standard American English
- A dialect that lacks consistent grammatical rules
- A speech pattern associated exclusively with limited language exposure
Correct answer: A rule-governed linguistic system with distinct phonological, morphosyntactic, and pragmatic features
AAE is a fully rule-governed dialect of American English with its own systematic phonology, morphosyntax, and pragmatics, recognized by ASHA as a legitimate linguistic variety.
Question 5: What is 'code-switching' in the context of bilingual or bidialectal communication?
- Alternating between two languages or dialects within or across conversations (Correct answer)
- Translating speech sounds into written symbols
- Switching from augmentative communication to verbal speech
- Changing communication style from formal to informal writing
Correct answer: Alternating between two languages or dialects within or across conversations
Code-switching is the competent ability of multilingual or bidialectal individuals to shift between languages or dialects depending on the social context, audience, or communicative purpose.
Question 6: ASHA's position on accent modification services is that they should be offered:
- Only when requested by the individual as an elective service, not to 'fix' a difference (Correct answer)
- To any client whose accent reduces intelligibility in clinical settings
- As a mandatory component of services for non-native English speakers
- Only by SLPs certified in foreign accent reduction
Correct answer: Only when requested by the individual as an elective service, not to 'fix' a difference
ASHA affirms that accent modification is an elective service available to individuals who voluntarily seek it, and accents are not disorders requiring correction.
