Beliefs Regarding the Impact of Accent Within Speech-Language Pathology Practice Areas

Abstract

With the demographic shifts in the United States, it is increasingly the case that speech-language pathologists (SLPs) come from different language backgrounds from those of their clients and have nonnative accents in their languages of service. An anonymous web-based survey was completed by students and clinic directors in SLP training programs in New York State regarding their beliefs about the appropriate scope of practice of SLPs with accents in English and other languages. Responses were received from 28 directors and 530 students. Perceived appropriateness of service by accented clinicians depended on particular disorders serviced and degree of accent, with phonologically based services believed by the greatest number of respondents to require more native-like speech than other areas. Further efforts must be made to research effects of SLPs’ accents on service delivery and plan strategies, if needed, for successful service provision in SLPs’ diverse areas of practice when mismatches in language backgrounds occur.

Children's comprehension of an unfamiliar speaker accent: a review

“…Both clinicians with unfamiliar accents and clients have a role in minimizing the potential effect of the clinician's accent on client's comprehension. Clinicians may adopt strategies such as (1) slowing down speech rate, which has been shown to reduce accent processing time and improve accent comprehension in adults (Anderson‐Hsieh and Koehler , Munro and Derwing ) and (2) modifying their own accent to accommodate clients (Levy and Crowley ). However, at present, there is no definitive evidence to suggest that the accent modification method facilitates accent comprehension.…”

Listener Factors Related to the Perception of Accented Speech

“…In addition, individuals who work in diverse environments and are exposed to accented speech were found more receptive to accented speech and were less likely to find foreign accents as “annoying” than those with less workplace exposure to accents (Dewaele & McCloskey, 2015). Regardless of this information, only one known study (Levy & Crowley, 2012) assessed how those in CSD occupations perceive accented SLPs. This study found that most directors of SLP graduate programs felt that accented clinicians can appropriately treat most disorders, regardless of their accent.…”

“…Most previous studies did not delve into the domains of intelligibility, comprehensibility, and accentedness (e.g., Hsieh, 2011). In addition, no known studies have assessed whether varying levels of education influence how listeners perceive accented speech and only one study examined if a CSD occupation (Levy & Crowley, 2012) impacts the perception of accented speech. Such information is critical for clinicians to understand the ways in which people judge accents and the reasons for these attitudes.…”

“…The increase in diversity in the U.S. population has caused a mismatch between the backgrounds of clients and clinicians in CSD (ASHA, 2011; Levy & Crowley, 2012). A previous study by Levy and Crowley (2012) provided information on how individuals in CSD field/occupations perceive SLPs with accented speech.…”

“…The increase in diversity in the U.S. population has caused a mismatch between the backgrounds of clients and clinicians in CSD (ASHA, 2011; Levy & Crowley, 2012). A previous study by Levy and Crowley (2012) provided information on how individuals in CSD field/occupations perceive SLPs with accented speech. Most directors of SLP graduate programs felt that clinicians with accented speech can appropriately treat most disorders regardless of their accented speech.…”