A culturally responsive clinical tool designed to support accurate assessment and decision-making when evaluating /r/ productions in speakers of African American English (AAE).
 
This guide breaks down key linguistic patterns of /r/ in AAE, including non-rhotic features, cluster rhotacization, and vowel centralization, with clear examples to help you distinguish between dialectal differences and true speech sound disorders. 
 
It also includes practical guidance for stimulability testing and clinical considerations to ensure your evaluations are informed, equitable, and evidence-based.
 
Perfect for:
• Speech-language pathologists
• SLPAs and graduate students
• School-based evaluators
• Clinicians committed to culturally responsive care
 
Use this guide to:
• Differentiate difference vs. disorder with confidence
• Conduct more accurate stimulability testing
• Avoid overidentification of speech sound disorders
• Strengthen clinical decision-making in diverse populations
 
Why it matters:
/r/ variation in AAE follows linguistic rules. This resource helps you approach assessment with curiosity over judgment, recognize within-dialect diversity, and center the client’s linguistic identity in your clinical process.