Accommodating unique language behaviours

Language behaviours unique to the bilingual person with aphasia such as translation, language mixing and switching should be considered in both assessment and intervention planning.

Reference: Ansaldo & Saidi, 2013
NHMRC level of Evidence: IV

Rationale: Aphasia may result in disturbances to bilingual behaviours and cause difficulties with translation and/or code-switching (Ana Inés Ansaldo, Saidi, & Ruiz, 2010). Code-switching or mixing does not need to be avoided, especially if they help the client maximize communication and if it occurs in an appropriate context. However, where language mixing is pathological and occurs inappropriately and unintentionally, this behaviour may be shaped using translation based approaches to switch back to the intended language (Ana Inés Ansaldo et al., 2010).

 References:

1. Ansaldo, A. I., & Saidi, L. G. (2013). Aphasia therapy in the age of globalisation: Cross-linguistic therapy effects in bilingual aphasia. Behavioural neurology. doi: 10.3233/BEN-130336
2. Ansaldo, A. I., Saidi, L. G., & Ruiz, A. (2010). Model‐driven intervention in bilingual aphasia: Evidence from a case of pathological language mixing. Aphasiology, 24(2), 309-324. doi: 10.1080/02687030902958423