Guest guest Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 , My daughter used sign language to supplement her speech until she was 7 years old. She had several hundred words of sign that she knew and could use. Then she slowly stopped using sign as she became more comfortable with her speech (even though her speech was still difficult for me to understand). She is much older now and still has apraxic difficulties. Sometimes I wish we still had sign language as a backup. My personal opinion as a parent and as a past Assistive Technology/ Aug Com professional, is that using sign language does not prevent a communication impaired child from speaking. Kids who have difficulty with verbal expression are often keenly aware of their deficits. My experiences have shown me that kids want to be like everyone else - verbally communicative. I feel that if a child cannot verbally communicate needs, feelings and desires (such as hunger, pain, fatigue, sadness, potty, toys etc) that an alternative form of expression needs to be provided. An analogy I use is that if your child had a broken leg and was in a cast, you would most certainly provide crutches while the leg was healing. You would not withold the support of crutches and force your child to walk on a broken leg. I feel that communication is somewhat similar, if a child is having difficulty verbalizing, some supports may be needed while communication skills are developing. Another perspective is to think how you would feel if you could no longer verbally communicate with your family? How would you perform your job, socialize with friends, go shopping etc if people could not understand you? As an adult some alternative way to communicate would be a necessity. I hope that these thoughts give you another viewpoint when determing whether or not to provide sign language to your child. Best wishes, Tina G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2003 Report Share Posted August 31, 2003 how many pushed sign langauge along with intense > speech therapy. I've been > holding off pushing sign language (he does have over 30 signs that I > don't encourage his using in favor of talking) but now I'm concerned > that I might be doing him a disservice by not giving him a fool proof > way to communicate with us. I stopped the signs when he stopped > using words all together in favor of signing. > > In your experiences, did you use them or keep pushing the words? > He's 3.4 years old. > > Hi , We encourage signing. We all want our children to talk. But if signing is helping them to communicate, then I see nothing wrong with it. My son learned sign language when he was young. Then he stopped using it, and now he is using it again. He doesn't get as frustrated trying to think of a word now, if he knows the sign he will sign it and then we have him say it also. It seems like the pressure is off then. If your son knows about 30 signs now I say he is doing great for his age. Alison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2003 Report Share Posted September 1, 2003 , We pushed sign language and now my son is 4 yrs 4 months and has100's of words. At age 3yrs 6 months he said ah, eh and da da. He frequently uses his signs along with speaking. I can cue him with a sign now and get him to say the word. I love using sign because I do not have to tell him to sit down when he is in a group I just sign sit down and it is so much more effective. My son uses words now much more than sign. Daphne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2003 Report Share Posted November 24, 2003 Hi Patti Yes, I've had 3 classes in sign language and my husband took 1. I've also used many different books and a few sights from the web. It is really hard to stay current though since my son signs slowly and choppily putting many signs together in an apraxic manner, ie no sentences, a bunch of words and he lets me guess the rest. I have gotten really good at understanding what he is trying to say though. I've been teaching many others including his ST on the outside signs myself. I've lost some signs since I don't use all signs I've learned all the time. It is quite a struggle to keep up on all of it. My son reads by using sign language and we would never know he could if he didn't sign books using sign language. The only bad thing about that is that every book he reads, I have to look up the signs I don't know still and that take a great deal of time, thus he is now starting to fall behind reading where he was at grade level before. We use both SEE and ASL. ASL to speak faster sometimes and SEE to be able to read each word in a book. Cheryl mom of Cameron, apraxia, mild Dandy variant, S.I.D. [ ] Sign Language Hi! I was curious if the parents that have apraxic children using sign language took a course or read a book to teach them the signs. Our family knows the signs that the ST uses with our daughter, but they are very limited. I would like the family to expand our sign language vocabulary. Thanks for any info, Patti --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.533 / Virus Database: 328 - Release Date: 10/31/2003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2003 Report Share Posted November 24, 2003 I have a CD-ROM that has signs on it with video clips showing how to do them. It's handy when you need a way to say a word and the ST isnt around to ask. I found it at Best Buy, but iv'e seen it at Walmart and other places too. It has a search box to put in the word you're looking for and it pulls up your options an shows you the video of how to sign it. Toni [ ] Sign Language Hi! I was curious if the parents that have apraxic children using sign language took a course or read a book to teach them the signs. Our family knows the signs that the ST uses with our daughter, but they are very limited. I would like the family to expand our sign language vocabulary. Thanks for any info, Patti ______________________________________________________________________ This email transmission and any documents, files or previous email Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2003 Report Share Posted November 24, 2003 I've used a basic sign language book and the signing time videos. really loves the videos and I do too. [ ] Sign Language Hi! I was curious if the parents that have apraxic children using sign language took a course or read a book to teach them the signs. Our family knows the signs that the ST uses with our daughter, but they are very limited. I would like the family to expand our sign language vocabulary. Thanks for any info, Patti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2003 Report Share Posted November 24, 2003 I have several sign language books that I refer too. My husband and I are taking a basic sign language course next semester. We also bought the Signing Time DVDs which the kids love and watch over and over again. Basically any resource available should help with particular words, but we are taking the course to put it all together. > Hi! > I was curious if the parents that have apraxic children using sign > language took a course or read a book to teach them the signs. Our > family knows the signs that the ST uses with our daughter, but they are > very limited. I would like the family to expand our sign language > vocabulary. Thanks for any info, Patti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2003 Report Share Posted November 24, 2003 Hi Patti, go to http://www.signingtime.com ---the videos are for children but easily teach the basic signs. My kids all love them, and CJ picked up very quickly. He also likes the baby see -n-sign series, which I believe is at babyseensign.com. I like that one because it is broken down into categories (let's get dresses, let's eat, etc). I have to say though, of the 3 or 4 different series we have tried, the Signing Time Videos are the hands down favorite. When we take long trips in the van, that is what I put on-the kids think it is a treat, and I have a captive audience, HA HA HA!! Austin Patti Cadwell <patti.cadwell@...> wrote: Hi! I was curious if the parents that have apraxic children using sign language took a course or read a book to teach them the signs. Our family knows the signs that the ST uses with our daughter, but they are very limited. I would like the family to expand our sign language vocabulary. Thanks for any info, Patti ______________________________________________________________________ This email transmission and any documents, files or previous email Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2003 Report Share Posted November 24, 2003 Hi Patti-- I tried starting out with ph 's " Sign With Your Baby " book before I even knew or realized that my son Drew had any speech issues. I was doing it at the time that he recommended, around 6-8 months, but after several months, I just gave up. Just now, I realized that maybe that was a first signal that Drew had motor planning issues...who knows? Anyway, when Drew started with EI services with his sped/speech teacher at age 21 months, she started signs from day one and encouraged us to use them too. Drew was picking up the signs so quickly that even she had to start reviewing some of them. She had recommended a book that she used, and even lent to me for a while. (I just got my own copy in the mail today). The book is " Signing Illustrated: The Complete Learning Guide " by Mickey Flodin. This author has written several books about ASL/signing, so it's worth looking into. I've taught myself a few signs, most recently what I call the " Crayola 8 " colors to Drew. Whenever I ask Drew what color something is, he always tells me in sign what it is, and learned his colors quite quickly. He's working on saying them, but he's far from saying all of them or any of them close to clearly. It's a start! Anyway, I liked this book because it seemed to have a lot of everyday words that could be used. Not only does it illustrate how to sign it, but gives you a hint on how to sign it correctly and its possible origin in helping you remember. For instance, the color red is brushing your index finger on your lower lip, as if to say that red is the color of lips. Easy to remember that way. Hope this helps! le (mom to Drew, 2 1/2 yrs next week!, apraxia and some SI issues) > Hi! > I was curious if the parents that have apraxic children using sign > language took a course or read a book to teach them the signs. Our > family knows the signs that the ST uses with our daughter, but they are > very limited. I would like the family to expand our sign language > vocabulary. Thanks for any info, Patti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 24, 2003 Report Share Posted November 24, 2003 Hi Patti, I took a course years and years ago that basically gave me the awarness of sign language. Then when Nick was around 9 or 10 months I read about baby signs and purchased the Baby Signs book. Fast forward to the 21 month mark when I knew something was " up " and I started trying to find books and tapes on childrens signs. I personally have not found a book on children's signs, maybe someone else will list one? I can say that I bought the Signing Time series (Ebay) and Nick picks the signs up very quickly from them. I'm sure seeing other children sign has a LOT to do with it. I only wish there were more of them in the series! I also like the music on them. The other thing to do is check out the ASL web browser at www.commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm I use that frequently but some adult signs are difficult for little hands so they have to be modified. Hope this helps! SAHM to 2.6 yrs P.S. To anyone trying to decide to teach sign or not I can only say that I am so very, very thankful that Nick has the 85 or so signs that he does. I can't IMAGINE the frustration tantrums he would have without them. Yes, most of the outside world can't sign, including his SLP but he at least can communicate with me and at 2.6 years of age that's a big chunk of his world Not to mention how wonderful it is for me to be able to see into his world a bit! > Hi! > I was curious if the parents that have apraxic children using sign > language took a course or read a book to teach them the signs. Our > family knows the signs that the ST uses with our daughter, but they are > very limited. I would like the family to expand our sign language > vocabulary. Thanks for any info, Patti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 25, 2003 Report Share Posted November 25, 2003 BTW I meant to say, Benny was born in March, 2001 so is about the same age. But every kid is different. You have had a lot of other important things to teach Nick, probably the most important is that you love him and are there for him. Peace, Kathy E. On Nov 24, 2003, at 10:46 PM, srmccann2003 wrote: > SAHM to 2.6 yrs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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