Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Speech and language disorders are common developmental concerns. Identifying language issues in bilingual children presents a significant challenge. In this study, we examined how bilingualism, gender and age predicted the timing and types of diagnoses in a large clinical sample of children referred to speech and language therapy (SLT) services in a Swedish healthcare setting. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical record data was undertaken involving 1025 children under the age of 7 referred to public speech and language clinics. Data on age, gender, bilingualism and speech and language diagnoses were analysed. RESULTS: Bilingual children and boys were diagnosed at a younger age compared with monolingual children and girls. Speech and language diagnoses were associated with bilingualism and age. Bilingual children were more likely to have mixed receptive-expressive language disorders and developmental disorders of speech and language unspecified, and less likely to have specific speech articulation disorder and expressive language disorder, compared with monolingual Swedish-speaking children. CONCLUSIONS: The timing and type of speech and language diagnoses were associated with sex, bilingualism and age. These observations may stem from the resources, tools and guidance available to professionals assessing bilingual children. Professionals should be cautious of these potential biases and take suitable measures to address them. Further studies in other geographical settings are warranted.