ASSESSMENT OF BILINGUALISM IN SPEECH THERAPY PRACTICE: DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES, LIMITATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL READINESS OF SPEECH THERAPISTS IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine the current state of speech therapy work in the context of bilingualism in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a special emphasis on diagnostic techniques, assessment measures for bilingual speakers, and the preparedness of speech therapists for such assessments. The research was conducted through a survey entitled "The State of Speech Therapy Practice in the Context of Bilingualism in Bosnia and Herzegovina", which was answered by 61 speech therapists from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The results show that speech therapists most often rely on interviews with family members to collect information about the language abilities of bilingual individuals, while informal assessment of both languages is the dominant assessment measure. The most common problem in working with bilingual speakers is the lack of developmental norms and standardized assessment measures for other languages. The results obtained indicate the need for further professional development of speech therapists, as well as the necessity of improving diagnostic approaches and treatments in order to characterize speech therapy practice in this specific context.