ASHA-IIE-CULTURAL — ASHA Issues in Ethics: Cultural and Linguistic Competence (2017)
What does ASHA-IIE-CULTURAL say?
Cultural and linguistic competence is an ethical obligation for SLPs and audiologists. Key guidance: (1) Culture encompasses age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and more. (2) Practitioners must recognize their own cultural biases and how these may affect clinical judgment. (3) Assessment tools normed on one population may not be valid for culturally/linguistically diverse individuals — using inappropriate tools can lead to misdiagnosis. (4) Bilingualism and dialectal variation are NOT disorders — SLPs must distinguish communication differences from disorders. (5) When a practitioner lacks competence to serve a culturally/linguistically diverse client, they should seek consultation, co-treatment, or refer to a qualified practitioner. (6) Use of interpreters/translators requires training in how to work effectively with them and understanding their limitations. (7) Informed consent procedures must be culturally appropriate and in the client's preferred language. (8) Treatment goals should reflect the client's cultural context, values, and communication needs. (9) Advocacy for equitable service access across diverse populations is an ethical responsibility. Relevant Code sections: Principle I Rules A, C (client welfare, nondiscrimination); Principle II Rules A, B, C, F (competence, professional development, delegation); Principle III Rule A (honesty); Principle IV Rules A, B (relationships, independent judgment).
Official source: read the full text in the ASHA Code of Ethics (2023) (official document).