The effectiveness of therapies for dual language children with developmental language disorder: a systematic review of interventional studies

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study aims to understand the effect of therapies on dual language children with developmental language disorder (DLD) on a range of bilingual language outcomes, compare with second-language-only therapy and determine whether there is any cross-linguistic transfer. Methods: A systematic review of English articles in 10 electronic databases was conducted. Screening, reviewing and appraising were performed independently by two reviewers. Quality was appraised and findings synthesised in accordance with the research questions. Results: Nine reports were identified. Five studies were found to be low in bias and therefore high in quality. Two were medium bias and two were high. Key findings were that instruction in the first language is required to support its continued acquisition and that bilingual instruction does not limit second-language growth. Conclusions: There is no identified evidence to suggest that second-language-only is better than bilingual therapy for dual language children with DLD for the development of the second language. There is evidence to suggest that bilingual therapy is equally effective for second-language development, and also supports development of the first language. Further work is required to understand the efficacious doses of both languages in order to develop cost effective therapies and achieve optimal outcomes.

KEYWORDS:

• Developmental language disorder
• bilingualism
• speech and language therapy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hannah Harvey

Hannah Harvey BSc (Hons); Research Assistant. Centre for Social Care, Health and Related Research, Faculty of Health Education and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University, City South Campus, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, B15 3TN; 0121 331 6067.

Hazel Allaway

Hazel Allaway MSc, BSc, MRCSLT, MHCPC; Speech and Language Therapist, Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Sarahjane Jones

Sarahjane Jones PhD, BMedSci (Hons); Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Social Care, Health and Related Research, Faculty of Health Education and Life Sciences, Birmingham City University. Taylor & Francis Word Template for journal articles