o/t sign language dvd for a toddler....any recommendations?

[Kajunswty]

My 2 y/o nephew has a birthday coming up and we've just found out he has a muscle problem with his jaw that is making it very hard for him to communicate. His parents are teaching him a few basic signs (milk / full / cracker / help..etc) but I thought a dvd might be fun for him and his parents.

Anyone have any experience with this kind of dvd??

 

[SueM in MN]

I'm going to move this to the disABILITIES Community Board, where it will be right on topic and hopefully get more replies.

 

[belle&beast]

My 2 y/o nephew has a birthday coming up and we've just found out he has a muscle problem with his jaw that is making it very hard for him to communicate. His parents are teaching him a few basic signs (milk / full / cracker / help..etc) but I thought a dvd might be fun for him and his parents.

Anyone have any experience with this kind of dvd??

I'm a speech pathologist and have worked with infants and toddlers. My favorite family friendly dvds were Signing Times. Just google it and you should be able to order directly from the website. Good luck to you and your family .

 

[Talking Hands]

Signing TImes has many DVDs that could be used. Also check on Harris Communications for DVDs.

 

[KirstenB]

Another vote here for Signing Times. If you want to preview it before buying, it's shown on Sunday mornings around 7 am on our local PBS station. Our younger dd, who's 22 mths isn't talking at all (but will make noises). She's learning sign language now, after resisting it for a month or so. Our speech therapist recommended teaching her sign language to try to prompt some communication.

 

[Kajunswty]

thanks everyone...just picked them up on ebay!! I can't wait to give them to him )

 

[kmjmom]

One of my student's Mom was willing to share her signing time videos with our program this year and we learned a great deal. It was great for my five year old student to show his teachers and classmates all of the signs he knew. The songs became some of our favorites. He had one about getting ready to go home from school and it became our theme song at dismissal!

 

[debbiemomto4]

My ds is deaf in one ear and I'm thinnking he is starting to lose more hearing in the other - we notice at times when he doesn't have his ha on. Are these videos using American Sign language?
If not can anyone reccommend something for him. I'm also stressing the reading lips with him.

working on it at least.

 

[Talking Hands]

My ds is deaf in one ear and I'm thinnking he is starting to lose more hearing in the other - we notice at times when he doesn't have his ha on. Are these videos using American Sign language?
If not can anyone reccommend something for him. I'm also stressing the reading lips with him.
working on it at least.

The Bravo series is ASL. Signing Times is more English. If you have a Deaf Services Bureau or similar in your area see what they have to offer as far as sign language. Also check out the videos and DVD's at HArris Communications. They have a section for children's videos and dvds. You can also check with churches in your area to see if they have a deaf ministry and see if they have sign classes.
Remember that speech reading is an incredibly diffiicult skill even for adults that have heard most of their lives. Don't be upset if your ds doesn't get it or finds it difficult. Much of speech reading is guessing from context and experience. In Englsih only 35% of sounds at most can be seen on the lips. I have had students who really on speech reading that they only get about 25% of what is said in class and really have to study a lot to get decent grades.

 

[debbiemomto4]

Thanks Talking Hands!
I was trying to find your name when I found this post. I'm getting his hearing rechecked in couple of weeks. But i know its usually a mixture of reasons that make some days harder than others for his hearing. I figured the summer is a good time to work on this. He has an amplified classroom at school that helps but I dread the new results. But definitely way better than what gave him the hl which was cancer.
I'll check those resources.
Debbie

 

[debbiemomto4]

I had never seen all these things that are available. especially those headphones for the tv- it just seems our volume goes up and up when he's watching it.
I'm excited!

 

[Talking Hands]

I had never seen all these things that are available. especially those headphones for the tv- it just seems our volume goes up and up when he's watching it.
I'm excited!

Request a catalog so you can show things you are interested in to his audiologist or hearing specialist. Then you can work together to get what is best for him. Also as soon as he can use sign language he is entitled to a tty in some states free of charge. Also various Video Relay Services provide equipment for free so he can sign with others with the same equipment. Sorenson is one, also Hands On VRS, i711, to name just a few.
Their are many resources but much seems to be spread word of mouth.
How old is your son?

 

[debbiemomto4]

He is almost 8 in September. going to 3rd grade.
Profound in right ear - both types of damage.
Mild in left - nerve damage in that ear.

 

[Talking Hands]

Need to change that. He may already be entitled to a TTY so he can call his friends. Check with your state as to whether or not they have this program. We do in Florida. They also provide amplified phones for the hard of hearing. All I needed was a form from my audiologist. I got the amplified phone.

 

[disneynewman]

I also have to suggest the Baby bumblee series of tapes, volumes 1-4 (I think) also have sign language. My DS who has autism picked up a lot of signs from this

 

[Talking Hands]

Are they American Sign Language or Manually Coded English? What may be right for an autistic child may not be right for a deaf or hard of hearing child. Big difference in the 2.

 

[disneynewman]

good point, I didn't know there was a difference but the tapes do say 'play ASL option'

 

[Talking Hands]

good point, I didn't know there was a difference but the tapes do say 'play ASL option'

So it is basically Manually Coded English with the option to play American Sign Language. Interesting. I have never seen it sold on Harris Communications so never heard of it. Everything on Harris is deaf oriented.

 

[Talking Hands]

For those who don't know ASL (American Sign Language) is a full visual and gestural language used by deaf people in the US, Canada and parts of the Carribbean. It has its own grammar and syntax which is nothing like English. It is not universal but each country will have it's own signed language.

Manually Coded English(MCE) is not a language but English which has been converted to signs which may or may not be ASL. It follows the rules of English grammar and syntax. It can be CASE (Conceptually Accurate Signed English) SEE 1 or 2 (Signed Exact English or Signed Essential English), PSE (pidgen Signed English) or any of a number of other systems that I have forgotten the names of). These systems were created by educators originally in an attempt to teach English to deaf children.
I could go into more detail but this is the basics.

 

[disneynewman]

For those who don't know ASL (American Sign Language) is a full visual and gestural language used by deaf people in the US, Canada and parts of the Carribbean. It has its own grammar and syntax which is nothing like English. It is not universal but each country will have it's own signed language.

Manually Coded English(MCE) is not a language but English which has been converted to signs which may or may not be ASL. It follows the rules of English grammar and syntax. It can be CASE (Conceptually Accurate Signed English) SEE 1 or 2 (Signed Exact English or Signed Essential English), PSE (pidgen Signed English) or any of a number of other systems that I have forgotten the names of). These systems were created by educators originally in an attempt to teach English to deaf children.
I could go into more detail but this is the basics.

Good to know, I had no idea it was so complicated!
What about the baby einstein tapes? Like 'Baby first signs' or 'Words around the house' I use those with my son too, it is visual and auditory but also using sign laguage and Marlie Matlin (?sp) does the signing on these. Personally I find ASL a little addicting I enjoying learning the signs myslef as much as I want my son to learn them, we even 'test' each other. I still get hung up on the alphabet sometimes and my son will manipulate my fingers to correct them for me