A Response to Blanc and Colleagues' Viewpoint on Gestalt Language Processing and the Natural Language Acquisition Protocol: Concerns and Common Ground

Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) and the Natural Language Acquisition (NLA) protocol have recently grown in popularity in the field of speech-language pathology. However, significant controversy surrounds the ideas proposed and clinical strategies recommended within GLP/NLA. In this commentary, we respond to the Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups viewpoint by Blanc et al. (2023) detailing the hypothesized alternative path of language development, proposed stages, and recommended supports associated with GLP/NLA. We identify several strategies recommended by the NLA protocol that are also part of general developmental clinical practices. We go on to describe five concerns associated with GLP/NLA: It is contradicted by existing research, has a fundamental conceptual flaw, presumes incompetence, recommends strategies that may be harmful, and lacks supporting research evidence. We close by emphasizing the importance of engaging in respectful and professional conversations about GLP/NLA and using precise language to describe its individual components.