The Attitudes and Perspectives of Filipino-Americans Regarding Speech and Language Disorders

The study investigated Filipino-Americans’ cultural knowledge and perspectives of stuttering, speech sound disorders, and users of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The study’s research questions included: (1) How familiar are Filipino-Americans with speech and language disorders? (2) What are their cultural ideas of etiology of speech and language disorders? and (3) What are the cultural beliefs regarding treatment of speech and language disorders? Using snowball or chain-referral sampling, leaders of several Filipino-American Organizations/Associations across the United States were contacted through social media platforms and asked to disseminate an anonymous, online survey provided in either English or Tagalog language. The survey consisted of a demographic questionnaire and statements related to speech and language disorders. One-hundred-sixty-six (166) Filipino-Americans representing 24 states completed the survey and provided their level of agreement to 60 statements about stuttering, speech sound disorders, and AAC. The level of agreement to these 60 statements were analyzed to provide insight into Filipino-Americans knowledge and perspectives of etiology and treatment for people with speech and language disorders. This information should contribute to Filipino-Americans’ cultural perspectives and inform speech-language pathologists’ clinical obligations to demonstrate culturally competence.