For parents and educators, it is helpful to understand how children growing up in a bilingual or multilingual environment acquire language and how this differs from monolingual children. Sometimes, typical characteristics of the language development shown by children learning more than one language can be mistaken for difficulties in language learning or disordered language. 

If a child has successfully acquired one language, typically the ‘home’ language or the language they are most frequently exposed to, they have demonstrated that they have all the skills to acquire any language. Speech-Language Therapy support is not required in this situation as, with sufficient exposure, the child will successfully acquire an additional language.

Where there are concerns about a bi-/multilingual child’s communication development, a thorough and appropriate assessment of their skills in all languages is required. If a child is found to have speech, language and communication difficulties affecting their ability to acquire all languages they are learning, Speech-Language Therapy intervention may be required.

If you have concerns about your child's development in one or more of the languages they speak, please contact me to discuss your concerns. I am highly experienced in supporting the communication needs of bi-/multilingual children and as a member of the Bilingualism London Clinical Excellence Network I am aware of the most current evidence based theory and practice for supporting bi-/multilingual children.