Should We Still Speak Two Languages at Home? A Message for Bilingual Families with Children with Developmental Delays
- Chloe Wong
- Mar 24
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 7
Many bilingual families worry:
“My child has a developmental delay—should we stop speaking our home language and just focus on English?”
This is one of the most common questions we hear from families. As speech pathologists and therapists who support bilingual children every day, we want to reassure you:
Yes, your child can learn two languages—with the right support.
What Does the Research Say?
Studies from around the world have looked at bilingualism in children with developmental disabilities such as:
• Specific Language Impairment (SLI) or now referred as Developmental language disorders (DLD)
• Down Syndrome
• Autistic children
The results are clear: children with developmental disabilities can become bilingual.
Whether your child hears two languages from birth or learns a second language later, bilingualism is still possible. What matters most is:
• Consistent exposure to both languages
• Supportive environments at home and in therapy
• Positive attitudes from family and professionals
What Do Bilingual Families Need to Know?
Here are some key takeaways from the research:
• Children with SLI/DLD (language delay) can develop two languages if they get regular input in both.
• Therapy in one language helps, but the gains may not always transfer to the other language.
• Children with disabilities are often placed in English-only settings, even when professionals believe they should still be hearing and using their home language (like Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese, etc.).
• Minority language children are often assessed and treated only in English, even when it’s not their strongest language. This can affect how well they are understood and supported.
Why Bilingualism Matters
Many families choose to stop speaking their home language at home, hoping it will help their child “catch up” in English. But here’s the problem:
• The child may lose their connection to family members who don’t speak English well (like grandparents).
• The child may feel less confident in social or cultural situations that use the home language.
• The family may miss out on natural moments of bonding through stories, songs, or everyday chats in their home language.
And most importantly:
There is no evidence that being bilingual causes confusion or delay—even in children with developmental disabilities.
What Can You Do?
If you’re raising a child with developmental delays in a bilingual household, here’s what we suggest:
1. Keep speaking your home language with love.
Your child needs rich, meaningful interactions in the language you are most comfortable with.
2. Tell your therapists and teachers that you want to support both languages.
Ask if therapy goals can include home language where possible.
3. Don’t feel pressured to switch to English only.
Bilingualism is a gift—even for children with extra needs.
Final Thoughts
As the researchers say:
“Bilingualism is the norm, not the exception. Children with developmental disabilities deserve to be part of a multilingual world.”
Your child has every right to grow up bilingual—just like any other child.
Based on research from:
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我的孩子有发育迟缓，还能学两种语言吗？——写给双语家庭的温馨建议
很多使用两种语言的家庭都会问：
「我家孩子有发育迟缓，是不是应该停止说家里的语言，只专注讲英文？」
这是我们最常从家长那里听到的问题之一。作为每天支持双语儿童的语言治疗师和治疗团队，我们想给你一个清晰肯定的回答：
👉 可以的！即使孩子有发育迟缓，只要有合适的支持，他们仍然可以学会两种语言。
📚 研究怎么说？
世界各地的研究已经探讨过有发育障碍儿童的双语学习情况，研究对象包括：
特定语言障碍（SLI），现称为发展性语言障碍（DLD）
唐氏综合征
自闭症谱系儿童
研究结果非常明确：有发育障碍的孩子，依然可以成为双语者。
不管孩子是从出生就接触两种语言，还是后来才开始学习第二语言，双语都是可行的。关键在于：
两种语言都有持续、稳定的输入
家庭和治疗环境中提供支持性的语言环境
家人和专业人员保持积极正面的态度
🧠 双语家庭需要了解的几点重要信息
以下是研究中总结出的几个关键观点：
有语言发展迟缓（DLD）的孩子，只要在两种语言中都能得到规律输入，是可以发展双语能力的。
只使用一种语言进行治疗虽然有帮助，但治疗效果未必能自动转移到另一种语言上。因此，直接支持两种语言更有益。
很多有发育障碍的孩子会被安排在“只讲英语”的环境中，即使专业人员认为他们应该继续接触并使用自己的家庭语言（例如粤语、阿拉伯语、越南语等）。
很多少数语言背景的孩子只被用英语进行评估和治疗，即使英语并不是他们最强的语言。这可能影响孩子被理解和支持的效果。
💬 为什么双语很重要？
一些家庭选择不再在家里说母语，希望这样可以帮助孩子“赶上”英文，但这可能带来一些问题：
孩子可能失去与**不讲英文的家人（如爷爷奶奶）**的连接
孩子在使用家庭语言的社交或文化场合中会缺乏自信
家庭可能会错过很多通过讲故事、唱歌或日常交流建立亲密关系的机会
最重要的是：
👉 没有任何证据显示，双语会导致混淆或语言发展迟缓——即使是对有发育障碍的孩子来说也一样。
👣 家长可以怎么做？
如果你正在一个双语家庭中养育一位有发育迟缓的孩子，我们建议你可以这样做：
1️⃣ 用你最自然、最舒服的语言与孩子交流
用爱说出来的语言，是孩子最需要的语言环境。
2️⃣ 告诉老师或治疗师你希望孩子保留两种语言
你可以主动表达希望在治疗目标中加入家庭语言的元素。
3️⃣ 不要觉得必须“只讲英语”才对孩子好
双语是一份礼物，即使是对有额外需要的孩子来说，也一样宝贵。
💛 最后想说
正如研究人员所说：
「双语是常态，不是例外。 有发育障碍的孩子，也应该拥有参与多语世界的权利。」
你的孩子，和其他孩子一样，有权利在爱与支持中成长为双语使用者。
📖 参考文献：Kay-Raining Bird, E., Trudeau, N., & Sutton, A. (2016).Pulling it all together: the road to lasting bilingualism for children with developmental disabilities.Journal of Communication Disorders.
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