Background: Speech-language therapists need to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services for their clients. However, language assessment with bilingual adults with aphasia can be challenging for clinicians, due to the complexity surrounding both aphasia and bilingualism. There are few investigations focusing on the assessment of bilingual speakers with aphasia. More research is needed, particularly in relation to the specific experience of the individuals involved in the assessment process.Aim: This study aimed to explore the experience of an outpatient language assessment involving a Samoan-English speaker with bilingual aphasia, from the perspectives of the participants in the process. Methods & Procedures: An instrumental case study was used to explore one case involving a community speech-language therapist's assessment of a bilingual SamoanEnglish speaker with aphasia. Data collection involved three phases: participant observation of the two assessment sessions; semi-structured interviews with the individual with aphasia, her family member, her speech-language therapist, and one of the interpreters; and a stimulated-recall interview with the speech-language therapist. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify themes within the data. Outcomes & Results: Eight themes were revealed in relation to assessment of a bilingual adult with aphasia: Samoan-English language assessment is a hard process for the individuals involved; Samoan-English language assessment as a team process; differences in understanding of communication impairments and the assessment process; time; preparation; appropriateness of assessment tasks and resources; uncertainty; and flexibility. Conclusions: The findings highlight the complex nature of language assessment involving a bilingual Samoan-English speaker with aphasia and provide valuable insights into the experience of the process. The investigation identified a number of useful clinical implications that can help to inform clinical practice for clinicians working with assessment of bilingual aphasia both in Samoan-English speakers and in other bilingual populations.

Estimates suggest that more than half of the world's population is bilingual [1]. In addition, high levels of cross-border migration have led to large numbers of people living in countries other than their country of birth [2]. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are Purpose: Speech-language pathologists are more often providing services to clients from a different cultural and/or linguistic background from their own. It can be particularly challenging to conduct language assessments with individuals with bilingual aphasia, especially given the limited research in this area. This investigation explored speech-language pathologists' perspectives on: the challenges that impede the assessment of language in Samoan-English speakers with bilingual aphasia; and the facilitators that support the assessment of language in Samoan-English speakers with bilingual aphasia. Methods:The study used a qualitative descriptive approach, underpinned by a constructivist paradigm. A focus group was conducted with four speech-language pathologists who had experience working with Samoan-English speakers with bilingual aphasia, including one clinician with extensive knowledge of the Samoan language.Results: The focus group yielded rich data relevant to the research questions. Analysis revealed 29 codes within eight categories of challenges related to: the Samoan language and culture; the SLP's background; using interpreters; family involvement; the logistics of the assessment; determining which language(s) to assess; assessment tasks and resources; and obtaining an initial impression of and building rapport with the individual. The analysis also identified 14 codes within five categories of facilitators related to: the SLP's background; using interpreters; family involvement; determining which language(s) to assess; and assessment tasks and resources. Conclusions:The investigation provides valuable insights into the experience of conducting language assessments with Samoan-English speakers with bilingual aphasia. The findings may also be useful for informing the delivery of speech-language pathology services to other individuals with bilingual aphasia.

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