Megan Gross
Bilingual language development and neurodiversity (e.g., developmental language disorder, autism); code-switching; cognitive control; bilingual assessment and family-centered intervention
Contact details
Location
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences Building
358 North Pleasant Street
Amherst, MA 01003
United States
About
My research focuses on the intersection of dual-language learning and disabilities that impact communication (e.g., Developmental Language Disorder [DLD], Autism). Current projects focus on how Spanish/English bilingual children with different neurodevelopmental profiles (neurotypical, DLD, autistic) learn to use and understand both of their languages, including when elements of the two languages are used in the same sentence (e.g., Está sleeping). In addition to understanding linguistic, cognitive, social, and environment factors that contribute to how bilingual children use and process their two languages, I am interested in best practices for bilingual assessment and how continued use of both languages can be most effectively supported through bilingual intervention strategies. Using a family-centered and mixed-methods approach, I seek to learn from families about their experiences accessing diagnostic and support services with the long-term goal of developing community-partnered supports that are responsive to families’ needs. I value community-engaged research and welcome opportunities to collaborate with community organizations and clinicians.