question: Sign-language

February 6, 2003

Hello. Mattias is now almost 15 months old and is babbling a lot but

according to his speach terapeut there are many sounds and vocals

that he still doesn´t say. So I started to learn him sign-language

and I am amazed how quick he learns and how good he is doing the

signs with his really tiny hands!! He has always been very good at

communicate in his own way, but now with help from sign language he

has got a big number of new words that he uses to tell what he wants,

and to use when he " read " books, to tell what he sees ets etc. Really

cute!! Mattias seems to be very satisfied to communicate this way.

(today he even signed " want to eat " good sign )My question is if

anyone else of you have any experience with RSS kids and

signlanguage. Do they finaly talk " normal " words?? Do you think that

sign-language has helped your kids to not be so delayed in speach??

Thanks!! /// Helén mom of Mica 13 years and Mattias 15 months.

February 6, 2003

Hi Helen,

My son was the same way. He wasn't speaking and he was getting

frustrated at not being able to communicate his needs. So we started

learning and teaching him sign language. He quickly got to over a

hundred signs.

When he was 2 1/2 he was saying about 5 words. Then just as if some

one threw a switch he started talking. He learned words quickly was

speaking in complete 5 and 10 word sentences within 3 months. His

speach therapist and us were astonished.

We concluded that he just didnot have the muscle control in his mouth

and jaw to speak but once they developed sufficently, he was off and

talking.

Now we are looking for ways to sometimes keep him quiet.

I hope this helps.

Ken M

> Hello. Mattias is now almost 15 months old and is babbling a lot

but

> according to his speach terapeut there are many sounds and vocals

> that he still doesn´t say. So I started to learn him sign-language

> and I am amazed how quick he learns and how good he is doing the

> signs with his really tiny hands!! He has always been very good at

> communicate in his own way, but now with help from sign language he

> has got a big number of new words that he uses to tell what he

wants,

> and to use when he " read " books, to tell what he sees ets etc.

Really

> cute!! Mattias seems to be very satisfied to communicate this way.

> (today he even signed " want to eat " good sign )My question is if

> anyone else of you have any experience with RSS kids and

> signlanguage. Do they finaly talk " normal " words?? Do you think

that

> sign-language has helped your kids to not be so delayed in speach??

> Thanks!! /// Helén mom of Mica 13 years and Mattias 15 months.

February 6, 2003

Helen,

I think it is wonderful that you have taught Mattias sign language.

You have opened up a whole new world for him. He will not be

frustrated with trying to communicate with you and I'm sure he is

pretty happy about it!

There is a lot of research that supports what you are doing. The

goal is to get your child to communicate in any way you can - and

you are doing that. Mattias will not use sign language instead of

talking. He will talk when he is ready. You have actually sped up

the process because, as I said, he is not frustrated with trying to

get you to understand what he wants to say. Just make sure that

when you sign with him, say the words that you are motioning. He

will catch on and eventually begin to speak.

My school had a basketball game on Tuesday with another school down

the street from ours. It is a school for deaf children. It was

wonderful to watch them sign and communicate with each other. Some

talked as they signed while others just signed. The teachers did

both. I was fascinated at their abilities to communicate with each

other.

Congratulations for helping Mattias. You are doing a wonderful job!

Jodi

February 6, 2003

Tori did speach therapy from Jan 2002 until Oct. 2002. Presently no delays!

When she started she wasn't even making a noise. She did sign, some of it was

her own made up signs but I knew what it stood for. Then she did both sign and

talking and now Feb 2003 is putting 6 words together, coming up with a lot of

her own ideas, remembering things that have happened weeks ago. I strongly

incourage the use of sign for any child that isn't speaking. It saved us alot

of flustration as to what she wanted and us not nowing what she wanted.

Maloy mom to Tori 2 1/2 18.11 31 1/2inches