Perceptions of Speech-Language Pathologists Regarding Arabic-Speaking Students with Language Impairments

Arab Americans are a growing population in the United States. According to the Arab American Institute (2012), their number has reached 3.6 million. In spite of this, there is a scarcity of research exploring this population and the issues related to the area of speech-language pathology. This study explored Arabic-speaking SLPs’ perceptions of service delivery to Arabic-speaking children with communication disorders, the challenges and issues they face, and the involvement of their parents in these services. Interviews were conducted with 21 Arabic-speaking SLPs who have delivered speech language services to Arabic-speaking children with communication disorders living in the United States. These interviews were transcribed, coded and analyzed for themes in response to this study’s research questions. Results included the significance of sharing language and culture and how this influenced their collaboration with other professionals; the SLP's advocacy role, lack of standardized materials for assessments, low numbers of Arabic-speaking SLPs and lack of well-trained interpreters. Additional findings revealed Arabic-speaking families’ beliefs and concerns about disabilities and their children’s diagnoses, families’ beliefs and preferences regarding language use in assessment and intervention, cultural, social, and economic factors influencing parental levels of involvement. Implications for practice and needed research is discussed.