Does the use of baby sign delay speech development? - Page 2

***VamPyroX*** · 10-16-2007, 04:46 PM

Signing and talking at the same time will help your kid develop better skills.

Tousi · 10-16-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Signing and talking at the same time will help your kid develop better skills.

Just with the MCE's, tho, Vampy, not with ASL. At most, some inaudible and intermittent, generally, mouthing goes on with ASL.

shel90 · 10-16-2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalista

My two sons were delay in their speech because their first language were ASL. I was not really worried about this, they pick up really quickly with T.V. program and pre-school interact with other children.

Now, my sons are 22 and 21 years old, their speak are advance level than I expect. I am not really worried about the hearing babies with Deaf parents's delay speech development. I preferred, they learn ASL first language than speak to communication with me more effectively in ASL.

I agree with u too! My 2 year old is delayed in speech right now but signing away. No worries..his speech will pick up later.

shel90 · 10-16-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Interpretrator

It's not easy. I have to do it in one of my classes where one student has a cochlear implant, another signs but is also oral, and another one has recently arrived in this country and barely knows any ASL. So I sign and speak everything and I end up repeating myself a bunch of times so that everyone understands. It ends up working out okay since it's an English class, but if I were teaching, say, history to deaf students, I'd probably go crazy.

Regarding "baby sign," the only thing that bugs me is why so they dumb down the signs so much for these programs? Someone once showed me a cheat sheet from their baby sign program and it seemed silly because okay, maybe a baby won't be physically capable of opening and closing a fist to make a clear sign for MILK. But hearing mothers know what their baby means when she says "muh," and deaf mothers know what their babies mean when they approximate the real signs until they are able to perform them correctly.

I am all for "baby sign" as long as that means "real ASL signs used with babies." Why even bother doing this if you aren't going to be using a real language? It would be like telling hearing mothers "Just teach your kid to say 'muh' because 'milk' is too hard."

I am with u on that one!

I couldnt speak and sign in ASL at the same time if my life depended on it. It just does not work.

jillio · 10-16-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Interpretrator

It's not easy. I have to do it in one of my classes where one student has a cochlear implant, another signs but is also oral, and another one has recently arrived in this country and barely knows any ASL. So I sign and speak everything and I end up repeating myself a bunch of times so that everyone understands. It ends up working out okay since it's an English class, but if I were teaching, say, history to deaf students, I'd probably go crazy.

Regarding "baby sign," the only thing that bugs me is why so they dumb down the signs so much for these programs? Someone once showed me a cheat sheet from their baby sign program and it seemed silly because okay, maybe a baby won't be physically capable of opening and closing a fist to make a clear sign for MILK. But hearing mothers know what their baby means when she says "muh," and deaf mothers know what their babies mean when they approximate the real signs until they are able to perform them correctly.

I am all for "baby sign" as long as that means "real ASL signs used with babies." Why even bother doing this if you aren't going to be using a real language? It would be like telling hearing mothers "Just teach your kid to say 'muh' because 'milk' is too hard."

Agree with you on the use of real ASL. If parents want a hearing child to use a new word, they don't dumb it down...they wimply pronounce the word as it is meant to be pronounced. The child will approxiamte according to their developmental level. So why dumb down the baby signs? Use the proper sign, and the child will approximate according to their developmental level. Accuracy will improve as development progresses.

jillio · 10-16-2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tousi

Yes, I knew that; I just thought somebody said speaking while in ASL mode but I can't find it. Oh, well, no big deal.

I was wondering about the question!

deafbajagal · 11-07-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

And yet we still have people insisting that sign will prohibit the development of spoken language, and the scary thing is, someof these people are the very ones that parents look to for accurate information so they can make informed decisions regarding their children!

YES! As a teacher, this is VERY FRUSTRATING to me that some "experts" are telling the parents that signing prohibits the students from learning to speak. How can kids learn to speak if they have no language skills?

Sorry. Had to vent.

deafbajagal · 11-07-2007, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

Signing and talking at the same time will help your kid develop better skills.

Just curious: For hearing babies, deaf babies, or both?

jillio · 11-09-2007, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafbajagal

YES! As a teacher, this is VERY FRUSTRATING to me that some "experts" are telling the parents that signing prohibits the students from learning to speak. How can kids learn to speak if they have no language skills?

Sorry. Had to vent.

Couldn't agree with you more. These are the kids that can speak as a parrot speaks....they can repeat. But their critical thinking skills are impaired by their stunted langauge development.

Bright-Eyed-TJ · 03-13-2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Interpretrator

Does anyone have a link to that series of vlogs where someone (I'm sorry I've forgotten who it was now) basically asked the question "Why is sign encouraged for hearing babies but discouraged for deaf babies?" Her argument was interesting and eloquent.

Hi, you are thinking of Amy Cohen.

You can easily find her and her videos as DeafRead and even a search at Google for "Amy Cohen Deaf".

Boult · 03-14-2008, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeafTJ

Hi, you are thinking of Amy Cohen.

You can easily find her and her videos as DeafRead and even a search at Google for "Amy Cohen Deaf".

here you go http://www.alldeaf.com/sign-language...tml#post746805

I dunno if those videos are still alive since amy has changed her vlog and is charging everyone to view her videos...
DEAF WORLD AS EYE SEE IT » The Greatest Irony

Callista · 04-13-2008, 02:38 AM

What's even scarier is that they aren't letting autistic kids learn sign, because they think that it will stop them learning to speak. My mom works for a bunch of auties as an occupational therapist, and their parents often don't want them to learn things like picture boards or Blissymbolics because they think it will stop them from learning to speak. As though speaking were so important!!

Effectively, they are denying all communication to the child... because atypical communication does not look "normal". I think there are a lot of autistic people who have things to say that nobody will ever hear, because of that kind of narrow-minded approach to communication.

deafsqrrl · 04-13-2008, 02:43 AM

I saw your thread.

The answer is NO. My 2 hearing kids ... they succeed so well. they have no problem w/ speech despite their first language is ASL! Believe me. The deaf parent can communicate with the child in sign language, but should allow the child to be exposed to the hearing world as well.

Sqrrl

jillio · 04-14-2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callista

What's even scarier is that they aren't letting autistic kids learn sign, because they think that it will stop them learning to speak. My mom works for a bunch of auties as an occupational therapist, and their parents often don't want them to learn things like picture boards or Blissymbolics because they think it will stop them from learning to speak. As though speaking were so important!!

Effectively, they are denying all communication to the child... because atypical communication does not look "normal". I think there are a lot of autistic people who have things to say that nobody will ever hear, because of that kind of narrow-minded approach to communication.

You have made a very good point, as the communication needs of the deaf and the communication needs of the autistic have many parallels. Both encounter numerous obstacles with oral only communication, but are able to communicate quite effectively with alternative methods. To deny those alternative methods is to create a handicap out of a disability.

traciedowell · 04-22-2008, 12:26 PM

This thread is right up my alley. When I first started my ASL education business, this was all I did. I focused on parents with babies and toddler age kids and taught them signs that were REAL ASL. I saw many cases where people used English in conjunction with signs and had incredible results.

Shel, I was the same way when I was a kid. From what I am told, I did not start REALLY speaking until age 3 but that's because of what I was exposed to. If children are exposed many languages at a young age, they will have better language skills.

Also, I have worked with parents of DS children. This was so interesting because these parents were told by doctors that their children would be very limited with communication. After working with them, we proved the doctors wrong and the kids were able to communicate better with their parents and with teachers. I think children are visual learners which makes ASL such a great solution for communication.

I always tell people that teaching your child to sign should not be to replace their first language. It should be used as an ALTERNATIVE option for communication. I have seen many kids go back and forth with their speech and signing OR do both at the same time. My little sister is 2 and I see her do the same thing. My mom can't hear her but I can and it's so neat to watch.

Ginette · 05-09-2008, 12:56 AM

I had twin girls (hearing) that were born 1 month premature. I taught them sign language as soon as I could. This resulted in less fustration on their part and mine. Both girls said their first word verbally at 6 months and very quickly picked up speech. They were used in studies done by our local University because they were beyond their peers verbally.

Unfortunately as soon as they learned speech they were no longer interested in sign. I should've encouraged them to stick with it but felt frustrated by hearing outsiders dumbing down sign language which only confused my daughters.

Background info.
My husband is hearing and I was born severe-profoundly deaf. My hearing parents taught me total communication (both sign and oral) Bless their hearts, they believed that I had every right to communicate with both worlds. But now I can honestly say I am mainly oral deaf. My sign language skills are awful especially after not using it for the last 12 years.

jillio · 05-09-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ginette

I had twin girls (hearing) that were born 1 month premature. I taught them sign language as soon as I could. This resulted in less fustration on their part and mine. Both girls said their first word verbally at 6 months and very quickly picked up speech. They were used in studies done by our local University because they were beyond their peers verbally.

Unfortunately as soon as they learned speech they were no longer interested in sign. I should've encouraged them to stick with it but felt frustrated by hearing outsiders dumbing down sign language which only confused my daughters.

Background info.
My husband is hearing and I was born severe-profoundly deaf. My hearing parents taught me total communication (both sign and oral) Bless their hearts, they believed that I had every right to communicate with both worlds. But now I can honestly say I am mainly oral deaf. My sign language skills are awful especially after not using it for the last 12 years.

Good for you for exposing your babies to sign from birth! Just wanted to add that many people assume that because a child stops using sign expressively that they are no longer using it receptively, either. That isn't always true, expecially in the case of deaf children. While they may have sufficient oral skills to make themselves understood orally, they may still need it to understand language receptively.

GarnetTigerMom · 05-09-2008, 05:40 PM

Teaching babies to signs and speech for both is great! Which I agree on that. But to some deaf that I know have kids don't speak at all, some do have speech delay. So there a different. It important to use "Both" signs and speech for good developments for a hearing child. Deaf child don't need speech so they use signs. I have seen some deaf who can t use speech to hearing kids and their child delay speech so it always good to use both.

~♥~Pinky~♥~ · 05-09-2008, 05:45 PM

Good Point. I agree with you. That's why I want to teach my baby to learn sign language. I don't speak. My fiance will teach my baby how to speak and sign language in same time. My deaf friends who don't use speech and have hearing children. It will cause delay speech development. Some hearing children like to speak than sign languages. It depend on deaf parents are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GarnetTigerMom

Teaching babies to signs and speech for both is great! Which I agree on that. But to some deaf that I know have kids don't speak at all, some do have speech delay. So there a different. It important to use "Both" signs and speech for good developments for a hearing child. Deaf child don't need speech so they use signs. I have seen some deaf who can t use speech to hearing kids and their child delay speech so it always good to use both.

GarnetTigerMom · 05-09-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinky678

Good Point. I agree with you. That's why I want to teach my baby to learn sign language. I don't speak. My fiance will teach my baby how to speak and sign language in same time. My deaf friends who don't use speech and have hearing children. It will cause delay speech development. Some hearing children like to speak than sign languages. It depend on deaf parents are.

yep , I agree with you. No doubt about it!

:-)

10-16-2007, 04:46 PM	#31 (permalink)
*VamPyroX* bloody phreak from hell Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hell Posts: 27,867	Signing and talking at the same time will help your kid develop better skills. __________________ Check out my city... CLICK HERE! (If you already visited yesterday, visit again today!)

04-22-2008, 12:26 PM	#45 (permalink)
traciedowell Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 121	This thread is right up my alley. When I first started my ASL education business, this was all I did. I focused on parents with babies and toddler age kids and taught them signs that were REAL ASL. I saw many cases where people used English in conjunction with signs and had incredible results. Shel, I was the same way when I was a kid. From what I am told, I did not start REALLY speaking until age 3 but that's because of what I was exposed to. If children are exposed many languages at a young age, they will have better language skills. Also, I have worked with parents of DS children. This was so interesting because these parents were told by doctors that their children would be very limited with communication. After working with them, we proved the doctors wrong and the kids were able to communicate better with their parents and with teachers. I think children are visual learners which makes ASL such a great solution for communication. I always tell people that teaching your child to sign should not be to replace their first language. It should be used as an ALTERNATIVE option for communication. I have seen many kids go back and forth with their speech and signing OR do both at the same time. My little sister is 2 and I see her do the same thing. My mom can't hear her but I can and it's so neat to watch. __________________ ~Tracie Dowell LifeMark Career Development http://www.deafcareer.com "For a few years I will set aside the time that most people won't so that I can live the rest of my life the way most people can't."

05-09-2008, 05:40 PM	#48 (permalink)
GarnetTigerMom Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,900	Teaching babies to signs and speech for both is great! Which I agree on that. But to some deaf that I know have kids don't speak at all, some do have speech delay. So there a different. It important to use "Both" signs and speech for good developments for a hearing child. Deaf child don't need speech so they use signs. I have seen some deaf who can t use speech to hearing kids and their child delay speech so it always good to use both. __________________ GarnetTigerMom "The rain may be falling hard outside, But your smile makes it all alright. I'm so glad that you're my friend. I know our friendship will never end." -- Robert Alan

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04-13-2008, 02:38 AM	#42 (permalink)
Callista Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2	What's even scarier is that they aren't letting autistic kids learn sign, because they think that it will stop them learning to speak. My mom works for a bunch of auties as an occupational therapist, and their parents often don't want them to learn things like picture boards or Blissymbolics because they think it will stop them from learning to speak. As though speaking were so important!! Effectively, they are denying all communication to the child... because atypical communication does not look "normal". I think there are a lot of autistic people who have things to say that nobody will ever hear, because of that kind of narrow-minded approach to communication.

04-13-2008, 02:43 AM	#43 (permalink)
deafsqrrl Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 98	I saw your thread. The answer is NO. My 2 hearing kids ... they succeed so well. they have no problem w/ speech despite their first language is ASL! Believe me. The deaf parent can communicate with the child in sign language, but should allow the child to be exposed to the hearing world as well. Sqrrl

05-09-2008, 12:56 AM	#46 (permalink)
Ginette Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 117	I had twin girls (hearing) that were born 1 month premature. I taught them sign language as soon as I could. This resulted in less fustration on their part and mine. Both girls said their first word verbally at 6 months and very quickly picked up speech. They were used in studies done by our local University because they were beyond their peers verbally. Unfortunately as soon as they learned speech they were no longer interested in sign. I should've encouraged them to stick with it but felt frustrated by hearing outsiders dumbing down sign language which only confused my daughters. Background info. My husband is hearing and I was born severe-profoundly deaf. My hearing parents taught me total communication (both sign and oral) Bless their hearts, they believed that I had every right to communicate with both worlds. But now I can honestly say I am mainly oral deaf. My sign language skills are awful especially after not using it for the last 12 years.