Re: grace's mom

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/14/2005 12:24:12 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

maryemapa@... writes:

Professionals tell you that using sign may " hinder " your child's spoken

language - I would not necessarily believe them.

I don't buy this either. My younger sister used sign with her sons as babies

and they speak just fine. They are both hearing, but they had very little

frustration when it came to getting their meanings across. They learned the

signs for words before they learned to say the words. She also used ASL signs

while speaking English, so it was pidgin sign.

I know this is a controversial topic, but in my opinion, any way you can get

language into a child is just fine. And if learning some sign relieves the

child's frustration at not being able to express himself/herself, then it is a

worthwhile thing. If a kid is already using their own made up (and sometimes

rude) signs, then why not start using some real ones that people outside of

the immediate family would know? The child is creating signs, and to my mind

that means she wants to communicate and speaking isn't working for her.

We're now learning sign. Ian's hearing loss is a deteriorating one and there

are more and more places where we'd need to be rather loud in communicate

with him. So, now we sign. We can now talk during movies or church, or repeat

what a guide in a museum is saying without talking.

We started to use sign with Ian without knowing ASL. I got books and went

online and found the signs I needed as I needed them. I used them as I spoke

aloud. ASL signs in English word order. That's also called pidgin sign. It was

not correct, but it worked for us. Our ASL teacher teases that I sign with a

Canadian accent since some of the signs I taught myself are regional and I am

re-learning the American versions. (grin)

Best -- Jill

[Guest guest]

on 8/14/05 12:22 PM, E. Mapa at maryemapa@... wrote:

> Professionals tell you that using sign may " hinder " your child's spoken

> language - I would not necessarily believe them. I know lots of HoH kids

> that use sign. (I know HoH kids born to spanish speaking parents who sign

> ASL, and speak in Englsh and Spanish).

I second what says. We did Total Communication with my son -- signing

and speaking -- from the time he was born. Granted, they were baby signs,

but they gave him access to language, which was the most important thing.

He's now completely oral, with excellent language and vocabulary. But I

think those early signs were hugely helpful for him.

Stefanie

Mom to Ben, almost 7, severe to profound, and Isabella, 10, mild loss

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I would agree that teaching

Grace some signs won't inhibit her language. She's a very bright

little girl and since she is only 3, I'm sure she could learn more than

1 language right now anyway. I read the Holland story and it's so

true. This isn't what we planned but I'm sure it will a nice trip,

nonetheless. Right now I am just at my wits end with the whining. I

do need to give her some other way of expressing her dissatisfaction

with whatever is going on. Even hearing the word " No " a thousand times

a day might be nicer than all the whining. OK, maybe that's not true!

Grace is actually learning to point and click and drag the mouse on the

computer. Once she is hearing, are there effective ways of teaching

her to speak while she is " playing games " on the computer? I haven't

looked into software programs yet but I'm hoping there are some that

she can use as part of her speech therapy since she seems to enjoy the

computer so much.

My approach to issues like this is to jump into the reading and

research. My husband has the " let's wait and see what the doctor says

before we panic " . Are there differences like that between you and your

spouses? I want him to learn as much as me about all this but maybe

how he's reacting is normal too.

I will look into learning some basic sign language to help us get

through this period. We only know " more " , " no more " , and " go " right

now. But she does give us the " thumbs up " when she likes something or

is impressed with something. Who knows if that's a real sign??

Thanks,

Cherie

Mom of hearing , 6, and severe HOH Grace, 3.5

[Guest guest]

But she does give us the " thumbs up " when she likes something or

> is impressed with something. Who knows if that's a real sign??

>

I think that's a generally accepted sign. My deaf daugther uses it.

I am sure your daughter knows the " I love you " sign also. I bet you do

too

There are some simple books you can also get from the library and I

noticed B & N even has some in the special needs section.

I applaud all your efforts and I wish I had signed more when Hayley was

younger.

[Guest guest]

Cherie wrote:

Grace is actually learning to point and click and drag the mouse on the

computer. Once she is hearing, are there effective ways of teaching her to

speak while she is " playing games " on the computer? I haven't looked into

software programs yet but I'm hoping there are some that she can use as part of

her speech therapy since she seems to enjoy the

computer so much.

Cherie,

I remember reading about some a while back, but when I looked into them, they

were a way out of our budget. My daughter has always enjoyed playing on the

computer. We have few Reader Rabbit games, and several Jump Start ones. We

also got a CD from Oticon (I believe)that has you listen for various sounds

while the child determines what sound they heard.

If I find any info...I'll pass it along.

Debbie, mom to , 6, moderate SNHL and , 3, hearing

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were

and ask why not. G.B Shaw

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/20/2005 12:18:31 A.M. Central Standard Time,

babydewe2@... writes:

We also got a CD from Oticon (I believe)that has you listen for various

sounds while the child determines what sound they heard.

If I find any info...I'll pass it along.

Hey Debbie-- I'm interested in this CD. Can you check to see if it was

Oticon that you got it from?

Putz

Illinois Families for Hands & Voices

_www.handsandvoices.org_ (http://www.handsandvoices.org/)

_www.ilhandsandvoices.org_ (http://www.ilhandsandvoices.org/)

Email: support@...

[Guest guest]

Yep, it's from Oticon. We got it from Joy (our audi) at a Sound Experience

meeting. Not sure if it was the technology meeting or not. We see Joy in a few

weeks. Want me to see if she has more?

Debbie

Parentsofdeafhoh@... wrote:

Hey Debbie-- I'm interested in this CD. Can you check to see if it was

Oticon that you got it from?

Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were

and ask why not. G.B Shaw

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I would be interested in this CD as well, since I'm new to this whole process.

Thanks so much

-- Parentsofdeafhoh@... wrote:

In a message dated 8/20/2005 12:18:31 A.M. Central Standard Time,

babydewe2@... writes:

We also got a CD from Oticon (I believe)that has you listen for various

sounds while the child determines what sound they heard.

If I find any info...I'll pass it along.

Hey Debbie-- I'm interested in this CD. Can you check to see if it was

Oticon that you got it from?

Putz

Illinois Families for Hands & Voices

_www.handsandvoices.org_ (http://www.handsandvoices.org/)

_www.ilhandsandvoices.org_ (http://www.ilhandsandvoices.org/)

Email: support@...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/21/2005 11:44:58 A.M. Central Standard Time,

babydewe2@... writes:

Yep, it's from Oticon. We got it from Joy (our audi) at a Sound Experience

meeting. Not sure if it was the technology meeting or not. We see Joy in a

few weeks. Want me to see if she has more?

I contacted my audiologist so hopefully I can grab one of those. I'll be

joining you at the next Sound Experience-- see ya there!

Putz

Illinois Families for Hands & Voices

_www.handsandvoices.org_ (http://www.handsandvoices.org/)

_www.ilhandsandvoices.org_ (http://www.ilhandsandvoices.org/)

Email: support@...