Sign Language Question

[ZPT1022]

Hi everyone. I have a question and I was hoping someone here could help me. My son was just diagnosed yesterday as having a speech delay and it was suggested that one of the things we could do would be to teach him some basic signs to help him to be able to communicate with us. Hopefully this will help reduce some of his frustration. My question is- does anyone know of a good online resource where I can find pictures of how to do signs? They taught us more and done yesterday but we are looking to add some more, like up and hug and drink and eat and some more things common to a 20 month old. If we can teach him more and expand to things around the house that would be cool. Sorry this is not Disney related but I couldn't think of anywhere else to go. Thanks in advance

 

[pumba]

my grandson has been signing for over six months now and he is 21 months old. The dvd that they got also comes out in tapes and is called "Signing Time", it shows alot of common things that a child would ask for or talk about at this age. The reason behind the teaching of the signs is some kids get frustrated with the hard to pronouce words. Have fun with this tape because all the kids in my gs's play group love to sign and watch this too

 

[samkj]

There is also a great book called Baby Signs. Here is the website. http://www.babysigns.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=aboutus.main

My son had delayed speech and signs really helped us too with the frustration. Good luck!

 

[dj2]

just a thought, but maybe you could ask your public librarian to show you what's available to you through the library, too. that way you can look a few over and see which ones might be good for your family. -dj

 

[HaleyB]

There are several types of sign language, and they are not exactly the same. So you might want to check with the local public elementary school and find out what is used in your area.

I think most kids are being taught Whole Language Signing (I think that is what it is called) instead of American Sign Language (ASL is what I know more of). There should be free speach therpy avaliable to your child through the local school. I think they start kids at 3 years old, but maybe even a little sooner. Too many parents don't know and so do not seek services.

Here is the first one that comes to mind for me...

Right hand palm up, fingers closed (like 'give me 5') left hand comes down in a chop motion and hits right hand (fingers closed, palm faces your body- the most natural way to make this motion). This means STOP. Did that make sense. I show people signs all the time but trying to put it into words is hard.

 

[eeyore45]

The library is an excellent resource. Find out from your school district what services are available for Hard of Hearing children. My son is hard of hearing, we learned sign language from the school that teaches deaf and hard of hearing to the district - they used "Signing Exact English" our libraries have copies of this book - (good explanation of Stop btw!!) It was such a relief once my son picked up on sign language... I'll never forget his frustration, and mine, and I said "can you sign it?" He signed "gas" we were in the car, but not near a gas station!! What a relief to be able to communicate!!

Also when he began to try and talk, we could sign "F" or "S" and say "dont for the f or sign dont forget the s - it was a great visual clue for him - he also learned the alphabet before he was 5 and one preschool teacher asked me if he was "cheating" because while he wrote the ABC's he'd sign them!! (it helped him distinguish b and d!!)

good luck!!

 

[ZPT1022]

Thank you everyone. He is only 20 months old, almost 21 months so right now we are working with Birth to Three. Once he turns three it is my understanding that if he is not up to the level he should be then he will continue on with the school district. I think I am leaning towards ASL, that seems to be more prevalent in our area since there is a school for the deaf about 20 minutes away from us in West Hartford,CT. Also, my mom is fluent in ASL so she will be able to sign with him more than I can, at least until I get up to speed. We're really hoping that this will give him an edge to be able to communicate. I actually didn't really think he had a problem except not being able to get a word in edgewise with both his twin sister and older sister. So now I feel bad that I didn't catch on sooner, but hopefully he is young enough that with the proper guidance he will do well. I think we're also going to be taking him for a hearing test, although he seems to hear just fine. I guess it doesn't hurt to check. I am new to all of this testing and special services stuff I guess and it is a little bit overwhelming. To anyone who has been down this road is it something that is treated for a little while and then you are done or is this a lifelong thing that we will be dealing with? Thank you all for all of your help, I will be making some phone calls and a trip to the library on Tuesday (Monday I have to take the other twin to an orthopedist for uneven leg fat, can you believe that? Apparently it can be a sign of hip problems) And Eeyore, I read your response to my husband and we are both LMAO about the "cheating" That sounds more like uninformed teacher than cheating, lol.

 

[eeyore45]

I am new to all of this testing and special services stuff I guess and it is a little bit overwhelming. To anyone who has been down this road is it something that is treated for a little while and then you are done or is this a lifelong thing that we will be dealing with? Thank you all for all of your help,

To be honest, it just depends. But you hit the nail on the head when you said "overwhelming". If at all possible, if you could find a mom, or if you can somehow connect with someone through a school speech teacher for a "parent" advocate - another set of ears that is familiar with the terminology is a godsend!! I've sat in on conferences with parents of kids with different disabilities, from ADD - to LD (Learning Disablities, ) as well as hearing loss... again, you are overwhelmed... it used to be a good idea to bring a tape recorder, but truly that's just not practical -

I'm glad you are in the Birth to 3yr Program, so the hearing test is covered thru the school district - you may find someone to talk to you, to help be a parent advocate there as well... I know its not an "un-common" situation, but it is overwhelming!!

Good Luck on the doctors - one day at a time!!

(and we also at the "cheating" comments, ds is 20 now, and it was a pretty common thing, he didnt "fit" in the deaf world, and he didnt "Fit" in the hearing world... In high school he refused a note taker because he knew kids would see that as cheating - he works so hard at reading lips, and he has hearing aides, etc that he cant take notes as well as most do - - it didnt serve him well his first year at college - so we view a lot as live and learn, move on, it could be worse, Life isnt supposed to be Fair!!)

 

[DisneyPhD]

my grandson has been signing for over six months now and he is 21 months old. The dvd that they got also comes out in tapes and is called "Signing Time", it shows alot of common things that a child would ask for or talk about at this age. The reason behind the teaching of the signs is some kids get frustrated with the hard to pronouce words. Have fun with this tape because all the kids in my gs's play group love to sign and watch this too

I have to 2nd Signing time series. It is my very favorite.

Here is a link to there website. My pbs station shows it once a week (Thrusdays at 5:00.)

http://www.signingtime.com/

I am fluent in ASL and used to use it for my work (theraist, worked with deaf people and their families.) I taught both of my girls to sign and I love seeing kids sign. My almost 5 year old still loved to use it. My 19 month old continues to use many signs, but has been increasing her verbal words more lately.

Best of luck. I hope it helps you and DS communicate better.

The mother in the signing time series signs a song about "show me a sign" and the disire a parent has to understand what their child is thinking and communicate with them. Everytime I hear it almost cry. I love that song so much.

 

[scottishwee35]

Hi


I wonder - have you contact www.ndsc.com as you will find lots of helper there.

We have a deaf daughter and she is 6 years old now.

We invovle ndsc as they give lots of information/support maybe they will help you?

Scottishwee35

 

[Talking Hands]

In the district I'm in we use both CASE (Conceptually Accurate Signed English) and ASL depending on what subject is being taught. CASE for language arts but ASL for Science, Math, and other subject where the concepts and ideas not to be clear. WE also relate ASL to English. ie in ASL you sign it this way but in English it must be written in this way. Right now I am working with a class of deaf kinders and they are already working on reading simple sentences. This week we are working on sign vocabulary books with the older deaf class because we are combined with them while our classroom is being painted. 20 kids and 5 adults in a very small room, but the big kids are great with the little ones. With hearing kids in the autistic and speech impaired classes we use CASE exclusively.

 

[belle&beast]

I am a speech pathologist and I am so glad you are taking to the signing. I have found in EI and preschoolers that it really leads to more verbal speech as well as the ability to make wants and needs known more rapidly. The Signing Times DVDs are great- check ebay and I also like the Baby Signs board books which have very simple relevant signs. At this point, unless he is hearing impaired or deaf I wouldn't worry too much about ASL or the school for the deaf. Using signs is just a way to introduce communication in most cases and kids become verbal very quickly. If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me.

 

[DisneyDreams4P&B]

This site is great cause it shows you how to do the signs with video online, no sign up or cost needed. Click on the site and then hit Browse signs. This is really the best site I have seen and gives you plenty of words to start with.

Let me know what you think!


http://www.signwithme.com/default.asp

 

[Talking Hands]

I am a speech pathologist and I am so glad you are taking to the signing. I have found in EI and preschoolers that it really leads to more verbal speech as well as the ability to make wants and needs known more rapidly. The Signing Times DVDs are great- check ebay and I also like the Baby Signs board books which have very simple relevant signs. At this point, unless he is hearing impaired or deaf I wouldn't worry too much about ASL or the school for the deaf. Using signs is just a way to introduce communication in most cases and kids become verbal very quickly. If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me.

I would strongly encourage the use of proper ASL signs as they are the standard signs used by people who use sign language and would be understood by teachers and care givers. This does not mean you use ASL grammar. Since your son is hearing CASE (Conceptually Accurate Signed English) would be the way to go. CASE is English word order and grammar with ASL signs. Conceptual means that a different sign would be used for the verb to run and the noun run as in a stocking.
We had a speech pathologist as school that had the attitude that ASL signs were not important. She ended up very embarassed by this when a student's cousin came to school on day and asked why they were teaching his cousin wrong signs. Turns out they live together as a family and the entire family uses ASL at home and the speech pathologist was just confusing him.

 

[Talking Hands]

This site is great cause it shows you how to do the signs with video online, no sign up or cost needed. Click on the site and then hit Browse signs. This is really the best site I have seen and gives you plenty of words to start with.

Let me know what you think!


http://www.signwithme.com/default.asp

This is a great site for basic signs.

 

[Joanna71985]

That is a great site!

 

[ZPT1022]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I really appreciate you all taking the time to reply to me. You don't even know how much it means to me. We are trying to work on the signs with him and also his sisters too so it is kind of like a fun family game and not just something we are pushing him to do. We've been trying to incorporate signs into our daily routine. Like to say, Oh, it's time for breakfast, let's go eat, and we'll make the sign for eat. Or we will ask if they want more water and make the more sign. He seems aggravated with it sometimes but the other day older DD was at school and I was feeding myself and DS and his twin DD some melon and my husband was having some too. We were kind of playing and I was feeding them (it was supposed to be my breakfast LOL) and I said "Oh does DADDY want more?" and Luke made the sign for more!!!! We were so impressed and of course we made a big fuss and clapped and hugged him and said YAY! Good job! Hopefully the positive reinforcement and not nagging him about it will help. We're starting to suspect that there may be some sensory issues at play with him too. This morning I ran the vacuum while he was in the room and he ran away and laid down on the ground and sort of covered his head (this is his I'm stressed out position). Also he doesn't like the way a lot of things feel and is very limited in what he will eat. Hopefully soon we get it all figured out and find something that helps him. Right now we are just so worried and feel kind of sad. Sometimes I just feel like we've failed him miserably and I just want to cry. Birth to Three will be back tomorrow and we will see what new news they bring. Last time they brought his evaluation which was just depressing. Anyhow thank you all so much, I am saving a lot of this info so I can go over some of it again during daylight hours. LOL!


Becky

 

[scottishwee35]

I know that feeling when you have a deaf child as same with myself as I am deaf too and I find very upset when I find out that my deaf daughter but I look at her now how lucky I am. She is so happy girl, smile lots and make welcome to everybody!!! J have older son, he is hearing and never thought to have another deaf child.

Now she is wearing cochlear implant as she have no hearing at all, she got 160 below so she had it for nearly 4 years which is fantastic as big different now.

She hear more than me and speak very clearly now.

I am sure in usa better services and plenty choice and helpful.

I wish you all the best for the future and I am sure you will find it happy!!

Scottishwee35