Sign Language & 4 year old

[Guest guest]

I have a daughter who is 4 years old and dx with apraxia & mild MR

(which we like to call developmentally delayed). We are in ST

through the Preschool system, and have been through OT & PT. She

does not show any attempts at making sounds linked to objects or

wants. She does Sign (she knows around 80+) sometimes she signs

without prompt, sometimes I have to ask for a sign, so I know what

she wants. She is very outgoing, she loves to laugh, she dances,

(in a creative movement class designed for children ages 2.5 to 3)

she can pick out colors and a few letters. She runs, jumps, and is

learning to roller skate! She cannot pedal a bicycle, but can

easily go up and down stairs. She began walking at 27 months. She

is currently in the Preschool special education program, which is

only one 45 minute session per week. (Her ST is also one 45 session

per week). She has in the past, done 2 hours of speech per week in

addition to OT and PT (which she no longer needs). She is very

annoyed with speech, and does not like to go (which has always been

the case with speech). She refuses to sign to her therapist (who by

the way doesn't sign). She is very independent and has accomplished

a great deal!! (Doctors said she would never sit on her own...well

look now!) Her therapist wants to stop signing and make her use

sounds only ,for communication. I don't think this is a good idea,

since I have experienced the anger & frustration of her not having

the ability to communicate at all. Does anyone else have

suggestions or advice?

[Guest guest]

Behaviorists practicing the Verbal Behavior method do a procedure that I

think helps:

If the child requests something with a sign (let's say an apple), the parent

begins to hand the item toward the child and states " apple " three times,

pausing each time they say it in anticipation of the child also saying the

word. If the child doesn't say the word after the parent has said it three

times, the child gets the apple anyway. However, if at any time during the

procedure, the child gives a word approximation, the apple is given

immediately. So, the child gets the apple because they asked for it, but

they get it sooner if they use the word approximation with the sign. It is

important to continue to expect the sign WITH the word approximation until

the word is intelligible. This procedure prevents frustration and doesn't

discourage the use of the child's signing repertoire.

An important element when teaching signing to a hearing child is for the

trainer to state the word at least three times any time the child signs, so

that the sign, the object, and the sound of the word are all paired

together. We should be their voice, allowing them to hear what they are

unable to say themselves.

I am very suspicious of professionals who advocate eliminating a proven

communication method before establishment of a viable alternative. I wonder

if they are uncomfortable with sign language and would rather not learn it.

It is unfortunate that they aren't supportive of the wonderful communication

system your daughter already has in place. I would never allow a

professional who sees my child for 45 minutes a week make such a drastic

change to her life.

Best,

[Guest guest]

My son is 3yo and had a severe speech delay, he didn't start speaking

until about 26 mos old. I agree that the sign language should not be

given up. Even though Randy is speaking pretty good, there are still

a few times during the day I don't understand him. Then he signs for

clarification and it avoids frustration for him.

Another thing that REALLY helped my son was enrolling him in a

regular preschool with children of normal development. His teachers

don't know sign language and so he needs to try to use his speech

with them. His speech has improved from 2-3 word sentences to 4+

word sentences all day.

>

>

> I have a daughter who is 4 years old and dx with apraxia & mild MR

> (which we like to call developmentally delayed). We are in ST

> through the Preschool system, and have been through OT & PT. She

> does not show any attempts at making sounds linked to objects or

> wants. She does Sign (she knows around 80+) sometimes she signs

> without prompt, sometimes I have to ask for a sign, so I know what

> she wants. She is very outgoing, she loves to laugh, she dances,

> (in a creative movement class designed for children ages 2.5 to 3)

> she can pick out colors and a few letters. She runs, jumps, and is

> learning to roller skate! She cannot pedal a bicycle, but can

> easily go up and down stairs. She began walking at 27 months. She

> is currently in the Preschool special education program, which is

> only one 45 minute session per week. (Her ST is also one 45 session

> per week). She has in the past, done 2 hours of speech per week in

> addition to OT and PT (which she no longer needs). She is very

> annoyed with speech, and does not like to go (which has always been

> the case with speech). She refuses to sign to her therapist (who

by

> the way doesn't sign). She is very independent and has

accomplished

> a great deal!! (Doctors said she would never sit on her own...well

> look now!) Her therapist wants to stop signing and make her use

> sounds only ,for communication. I don't think this is a good idea,

> since I have experienced the anger & frustration of her not having

> the ability to communicate at all. Does anyone else have

> suggestions or advice?

[Guest guest]

Hi all!

My son was

just tested at IOWA CITY and had a thorough work up and he tested at the 35

month level for cognitive skills which qualifies us for the mr waiver. He is

developmentally delayed due to severe apraxia. He amazes me and knows his

numbers from 1-20, all his colors, abc's, squares, circles, triangles and his

name

and it looks like he is trying to read. He is 4.3 and can say about 20

words plainly but since IQ tests are based on language it is difficult to

assess some of the skills, He doesn't have any form of autism like we once

thought

and he said 2 new words there, we will have his hearing tested here at the

hospital in his sleep, we saw a psychologist yesterday who suggested we use a

timer with him when he acts up and set it so he knows that time is up and we

have

to leave. His prognosis is very good and we will probably need years of

speech therapy and we are hoping he will be a good reader to compensate for his

speech loss. He has alot of behavior problems like pulling hair, biting, etc.

attends a preschool program and has OT AND ST 2 hours a week and we just started

taking him to a psychologist every other week. WE HAVE ALOT OF HOPE THAT OUR

LITTLE GUY WILL BE OK. This website has been nothing short of a miracle for me.

I work at home and had never heard of apraxia until the ST brought it up.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. Charlotte mom to Josh 4.3 with severe apraxia