How Does an Assessment Look Different for a Monolingual Child, Bilingual Child, or a Child That Speaks Multiple Languages?

Assessments for monolingual and bilingual/multilingual children differ significantly, requiring an understanding of the child's dialect and languages. The use of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) aids in analyzing phonemes, highlighting both shared and distinct sounds while identifying the dominant language. It's essential to consider language features such as tones and stress that affect intelligibility, as well as the specific contexts and needs for each language. Multilingual children often require extra time and focused attention during evaluations.