The Perspective of Haitian Parents on Heritage Language Maintenance in Children With Speech-Language Disorders.

Purpose: This study is part of a larger study that explores the beliefs and attitudes of Haitian parents in the United States regarding heritage language maintenance. The study sought to understand Haitian parents' perspective of heritage language maintenance when the parent has a child with a communication disorder. Method: Semistructured interviews were conducted with seven Haitian parents of children who have or had a speech-language disorder. The interviews were conducted virtually through videoconferencing. A thematic analysis was used to explore the data and determine recurring themes. Results: Participants desired to preserve the heritage language; however, fear of further language delay and sociolinguistic factors influenced their language choice. Furthermore, the results revealed that the lack of Haitian Creole language maintenance led to a communication breakdown with family and parental regret on the missed opportunity to pass on the heritage language. Conclusion: The findings from this study demonstrate a need for continued education with physicians, SLPs, and other related service providers on the issues related to bilingual language development, language maintenance, and counseling families regarding home language practice.