Guest guest Posted June 24, 1999 Report Share Posted June 24, 1999 , had tubes placed earlier than . We did however see a major improvement in her vocalizations. It was a big deal to hear her voice. She had trouble with consonants, though. She just recently got hearing aides. She wears the left one all the time. This was another milestone. She has experimented with different pitches in her voice and she is actually saying words...albeit a consonant may still be left out. The big thing is she is interested in talking!! The tubes worked for and we are glad she has them. The hearing aides were an adjustment, more for us!! may not need them, hopefully. But what a difference even just the tubes made. Colleen wife to Phil, mom to , 20 mos,ChARGE Ardsley, PA pc1feather@... ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 1999 Report Share Posted June 24, 1999 Colleen, Thanks for your reply, did you ever attempt to introduce sign language to it's something that has been on my mind but I don't really know where to begin. , Wife to , Mom to (4), Kaitlynn(21/2), & (17 months) Winnipeg, Manitoba ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 1999 Report Share Posted June 26, 1999 , We did start signing to because she was delayed in her expressive communication. We just started with three books I picked up from AMAZON.com, through the link on Casey's web page. The address is on my bookmark so I don't have it on hand - Casey? They are: Simple Signs by Wheeler More Simple Signs by Wheeler Signing For Kids by Mickey Flodin The first two books are written for children. The last one includes words kids may want/need to know. We started by doing the sign as we said the word we wanted her to learn. Repetition was/is key. Sometimes we did hand over hand to show her how to do it. Consistency is important. has moved into a phase where she copies what we do so it's getting easier. She will learn a bunch of signs then hit a spell where she won't learn any. The cycle then repeats! We started with more, please and thank you. now has a small vocabulary of about 25 words. She definitely makes her signs as a 20 month old would but we understand her. It has actually helped her communication skills and we are glad we did it. Her PT has a deaf daughter who we met with once already who is going to help us learn more signing. I would start now with . Some people questioned us because they believed we would hinder her speech. We disagree. Her therapists do too. We all believe she is doing better because of it. I have an extra Simple Signs book. I could mail it to you if you e-mail me your address or bring it to Houston if you are going. Let me know. Colleen wife to Phil, mom to , 20 mos,ChARGE Ardsley, PA pc1feather@... ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 1999 Report Share Posted June 26, 1999 - We have also taught Aubrie sign even tho she is not deaf. She can say " mama " and " dada " but she doesn't babble all the consonant sounds yet. She signs about 10 words. I agree with Colleen that it makes sense to start as soon as possible. If Aubrie couldn't sign, she'd have no expressive communication -- except crying, whining, tantrums, etc. We don't have much of that because she can tell us most of what she needs and wants. I have used several sign books and videos. I got most of them thru our state's School for the Deaf. We also have a therapist from there who has taught me a lot and I've taken classes at the school. If you need ideas on specific books and videos, let me know. It's fun to learn but it has been slow-going and frustrating at times. Just when I thought I was at a plateau in my learning of ASL, I went back thru my flashcards and realized that I know many, many words. I just have to work at putting them into use on a regular basis. I knew for a long time that it made sense to sign with Aubrie and I had great intentions... but I put it off for months. Then when I finally put my mind to it, it wasn't that hard to learn. If you decide to do it, just relax, get started, and go at a pace that is comfortable for you. I found out that it's just not something to stress-out about. Once you find the resources available to you and get started, it'll all just fall into place. Oh, and there are atleast 2 ASL on-line dictionaries that I have found. They're kind of fun, too! Michele mom to Aubrie (18 mos) CHaRgE and (7 yrs), wife to DJ, in IL westml@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 1999 Report Share Posted June 27, 1999 Thank you for your encouragement in pursuing sing language, I haven't had much encouragement from 's medical staff. I certainly feel it's important she's 17 mo. and I can tell she's frustated at not communicating with us. These past 3 days have been extremely hard she wouldn't stop crying and just wanted to cuddle wiyh me all day, so I finaly took her in yesterday and it turns out she has both ear and chest infections.I have to say sing language overwhelms me but if you could tell me out of all the books if I were to go buy one wich would be the best to start with? Colleen thank you for your offer on the book, unfortunatly we can't go to Huston, it would be great to meet all of you...oh well maybe next time. If you wanted to mail it to me, that would be great, if it would be cheapper to purchace it here I don't mind, do you have to go to a special store for these books or can you find them in a regular book, it may be different here in Canada I'm getting the feeling we don't have as much varioty, I've been looking for a long time for sun glasses that would work for ...Anyway I will have to get back to you regarding my address because we are moving at the end of this month and weare still in limbo as to where we will go, but that's another storie.... Have a good day everyone, , Wife to , Mom to ... & (17mo.) --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 1999 Report Share Posted June 27, 1999 - I found a whole shelf of ASL books at & Noble. Do you have a store like that in Canada? There is one book I've been considering buying but wasn't sure I wanted to spend the money on. So I got it thru our library system. Do you have an interlibrary loan system there? Even tho our little local library didn't have it, they got it from a bigger library somewhere else in the state. If you're internet connected, you'll have to try the online dictionaries. They are 3-D and in motion like the CD-rom Colleen mentioned. Is there anyone in your community who knows sign and could spend just a few hours helping you get started? It made a big difference to me to have someone give me ways to remember the signs and show me in person. Starting just from the books would be harder -- altho it's certainly do-able! I don't want to discourage you. It is overwhelming, but just start slow and you'll do fine. I think the best starting place is a book with signs for kids. We used Signs for Me. It's grouped by category and has all sorts of words kids use. But it doesn't give any instruction on signing. Most sign dictionaries have some instructional info at the beginning. Michele mom to Aubrie (18 mos) CHaRgE and (7 yrs), wife to DJ, in IL westml@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 28, 1999 Report Share Posted June 28, 1999 Colleen: Great news about and signing! It starts slowly, then...LOOK OUT! We started signing when was only 6-9 months old (and we were not fluent since we were learning as well!), and now I can't even begin to tell you how many words she knows. That's because we are into sentences, descriptions, instructions, etc.! >I would start now with . Some people questioned us because they >believed we would hinder her speech. We disagree. Her therapists do >too. We all believe she is doing better because of it. I agree with you. Even though will probably never have speech; if she were capable of it I'm certain because of all the delays we would have still signed with her early on. Nice to see a therapist who actually agrees with signing. One of our local school districts even has been using ASL in their standard curriculum for their schools. They have found that signing reinforces vocabulary in the earlier grades (1, 2, and 3 particularly) and helps with spelling. These are very visual/hands-on ages for learning. Sign language reinforces that learning style. Keep up the good work. Friends in CHARGE, Marilyn Ogan Mom of Ken (9) and (6 - CHARGE), Wife of Rick Indianapolis, IN oganm@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 1999 Report Share Posted June 29, 1999 Michele, I will gladly bring the sign books I have to Houston however you are far more up to speed then me!! I haven't checked out any online ASL sites/dictionaries. We also have not taken any classes yet. It is part of our plan. Where did you find flash cards? Or did you put them together yourself? , I found the books on line at AMAZON.com. I went onto Casey's web page and the link for AMAZON is on there. It was cheaper there. The drawback is you use your credit card on line. If that is not an issue for you, you may want to check it out. I have also found them at and Noble. Let me know your new address and I'll send the one I have. Colleen wife to Phil, mom to , 20 mos,ChARGE - Eye Surgery on Wed. Ardsley, PA pc1feather@... ___________________________________________________________________ Get the Internet just the way you want it. Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month! Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 1999 Report Share Posted June 29, 1999 Colleen- I am borrowing the ASL flash cards from my ST. They are better than a book for learning because you can't see the sign while you're looking at the word. I can give you the info on them if you're interested in finding them somewhere. Michele mom to Aubrie (18 mos) CHaRgE and (7 yrs), wife to DJ, in IL westml@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 24, 1999 Report Share Posted August 24, 1999 Hi all, I have a question for you. My daughter, Ali, has fairly good receptive language skills. She does have difficulties with the expressive language. Her words tend to evolve. It isn't easy for her verbally. I understand most of what she says, but other people may not. They are having difficulties understanding her verbally at school. The question is - Could there be a neurological reason for this problem. Are there any tests to find out??? Does anyone know..... I would appreciate any imput or thoughts on this. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 25, 1999 Report Share Posted August 25, 1999 RE: Hearing Hi Michele: I am under the assumption that her audiological tests for hearing were all normal? When you say her " words tend to evolve " I'm not clear in what you mean. Does she demonstrate clear meaning in her responses but the speech sounds are unclear? Cranial nerve involvement (twelve pairs of nerves arise directly from the undersurface of the brain to supply head and neck) may include nerves that supply info. to the muscles of the tongue, also facial muscles. This would affect speech. Hearing may be affected by the nerves that supply info. to the brain (vestibular and coclear nerve of hearing run side by side). I believe an MRI can test for nerve function? Therapies include the cranial-sacral therapy mentioned available by the Handel method. (from Seattle) She is running workshops throughout the States, and teaching others to carry on her methods. ( The nerve tapping she demonstrated at the conference is so simple, maybe we could scan our copy for others? Not sure if this is ok to do) Other therapies may include those of " applied kinesiologist " who are trained chiropractors who study further to use the nerve system mapped out by the ancient Chinese. Speech may also be affected by extra tissue under the tongue or not joined properly which can be clipped if needed. Speach therapy is also valuable which I assume she is getting? OT therapy can help working muscles of face, lips and tongue and an OT can assess the proper use or effectiveness of these small muscles. Ann Gloyn, D. B. Specialist, Canada > From: bass@... > > Hi all, > I have a question for you. My daughter, Ali, has fairly good receptive > language skills. She does have difficulties with the expressive language. > Her words tend to evolve. It isn't easy for her verbally. I understand > most of what she says, but other people may not. They are having > difficulties understanding her verbally at school. The question is - > Could there be a neurological reason for this problem. Are there any tests > to find out??? Does anyone know..... I would appreciate any imput or > thoughts on this. > > Thank you > > > > --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.