baby signs

[Guest guest]

Don't feel bad Jessie, when my Caleb was little his speech was also delayed

(drug exposed baby), and they told me not to teach him signing for the same

reason. This was only 10 years ago. The difference was that Caleb was

extremely frustrated with not being able to speak. He was kicking, hitting,

screaming, throwing tantrums . Luckily we have not had this problem with Micah

whose speech is so severely delayed and made worse by apraxia. Anyway, I

ignored

the advice because I knew we had to do something to alleviate his

frustration and anger. That was the first order of business. He sucked those

signs up

like a sponge and within months began speaking. Once his frustration level

was reduced and he could sign and have his basic needs met, he was able to

begin to grasp the speech. Again I believe the reinforcement of the words

visually, helped him learn to speak. I have always said that when it comes to

therapy, follow your gut concerning your child. Glean what is best for your

child and throw the rest away. Remember therapists are only people who have

been taught certain things and each therapist learns different things. One

might tell you not to use a pacifier because it will delay speech. One might

tell you use it for oral motor stimulation. Mom knows best!!! Listen, learn,

and throw away what doesn't apply, that's my motto!!

Loree

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/6/2006 6:33:14 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

RSYOSH@... writes:

With her apraxia she could

not easily prove that she could read and comprehend the written words, but

signing gave her the freedom to prove she understood.

That is my beef now. One of Micah's goals is to say a word that begins with

the letter of the alphabet to show he know the use of the word. Duh he

can't talk!! So I will address this next week when we have a team meeting.

Sometimes this stuff is just to stupid to believe!!

Loree

[Guest guest]

We also used sign with . All of the kids in her class had there own " sign "

that was their name. 's was making the " L " sign with her right hand and

tapping her chest over her heart. I remember 's was making the " M " sign

and sliding your hand down the side of your head. We never had a huge signing

inventory, mainly the basics like eat, drink, more, chips, sit down. I can't

remember all we used. is very verbal, we do have to tell her to slow down

on her speech frequently, especially when excited.

I have to laugh, one sign I still use is the one for sit down. In fact, in the

school gym the other night, I was sitting with behind the girls team bench

(she is the equipment manager). was across the gym on the home team side,

sitting with a friend. Of course, she had the warnings not to run around, to

sit and save seats for me and her Dad, but of course, she wasn't doing it. I

waited until I caught her eye, and calmly gave her the sign for sit down, rather

emphatically. She promptly sat down and pulled her friend down beside her.

Still works today!

Sharon H.

Mom to , (14, DS) and , (10)

South Carolina

[Guest guest]

We used " total communication " with Maverick, starting at birth. That meant

we used sign and words. The important thing is that you do use your words

with the sign and not just the sign. He started signing at 9 months.. Mommy

Daddy, and Barney. He had a LARGE sign vocabulary. With his apraxia he

still will combine sign even now when he is trying to be understood.

And I use sign all the time when we are in public and he is out of ear shot.

The problem is that he avoids eye contact when he knows I need to talk to

him.. LOL. Typical teen.

Also, from preschool to 3rd grade I went regularly into his classroom and

taught the whole class sign, starting out with signs they needed to use to

communicate with Maverick and then on to useful and fun signs for them to

use. I got a lot of positive feedback from the other parents on how happy

they were that their kids were learning sign.

" Attitudes are Contageous. Is YOURS worth catching? "

[Guest guest]

When we adopted at age 2, he wasn't making any noises at all and had

given up trying to communicate. He barely made eye contact anymore. He had

been in foster care where the foster parents even told me, " I don't know why

you are so excited to get him anyway, he is just a down's kid...he doesn't

do anything " . Oooooooooh!! talked about being po'd!!! But that explained

a lot. They hadn't even tried to communicate with him. He sat in an infant

seat in the corner for 2 years.

Well...We started signing with him immediately (I have 2 hearing impaired

sons) and ignored the advice that it would hinder his speech. He also

soaked the signs up like a sponge! He had a huge vocabulary within a year

and was able to ask for what he wanted, tell us when he didn't want

something. It was great. The eye contact improved and his frustration

level went way down too. Now I think that it DID slow down his

verbalizations, but NOT significantly...what is a year or even a little

more, if he is happy and learns the words for everything?!?! When he was

ready to start verbalizing, he already knew that it would get what he

wanted. HE dropped the signs as he could say each one where we could

understand him. He still, once in a while, has to use a sign or two when we

don't know what he is saying, but he is doing GREAT. and never had to

tantrum or feel frustrated to have him needs met.

BTW, people always tell me that my kids are so great during church and want

to know how I do it...little do they know that I am signing to them on my

lap that when they get home they will be in so much trouble if they don't

shape up,etc LOL!! I think signing is GREAT!!! I also went to school to

become an interpreter, so I am fluent in sign. I would say SIGN, SIGN,

SIGN!! With our kids, I would also make sure to say each word as you

sign, since our goal is spoken language too. It gives them visual and

auditory input and helps with comprehension. When the " experts " would tell

us not to sign, I would say, signing is our bridge to spoken language, not

our end goal. All of those same people are amazed at J's vocabulary now!

Sorry to ramble...

Kym...mom to 5 including (8ds) who now happens to be bilingual

[Guest guest]

we used signs too when Nic was young. As his vocab(verbal) improved, he

slowly dropped the signs.....all but 1.

" milk " for some reason, when he wants milk he signs and says it (NUK)

Di

baby signs

> We used " total communication " with Maverick, starting at birth. That

> meant

> we used sign and words. The important thing is that you do use your words

> with the sign and not just the sign. He started signing at 9 months..

> Mommy

> Daddy, and Barney. He had a LARGE sign vocabulary. With his apraxia he

> still will combine sign even now when he is trying to be understood.

> And I use sign all the time when we are in public and he is out of ear

> shot.

> The problem is that he avoids eye contact when he knows I need to talk to

> him.. LOL. Typical teen.

> Also, from preschool to 3rd grade I went regularly into his classroom and

> taught the whole class sign, starting out with signs they needed to use to

> communicate with Maverick and then on to useful and fun signs for them to

> use. I got a lot of positive feedback from the other parents on how happy

> they were that their kids were learning sign.

>

>

>

> " Attitudes are Contageous. Is YOURS worth catching? "

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is how I feel, too...I'd rather see Ruthie learning a little slower but

with less stress and anxiety than try to push her so much she hates trying new

things. We're fortunate, she seems to be a 'motor driven' learner rather than an

'observer' (terms from the book of exercises we're using) so generally she shows

the signs of being ready for the next step rather than us having to push her

toward it.

Sue

_____________________

Now I think that it DID slow down his

verbalizations, but NOT significantly...what is a year or even a little

more, if he is happy and learns the words for everything?!?!