baby sign language.....?

Question

i have a next door neighbor and they told me that their daughter doesnt speak more then a couple words.....and that is a cause of teaching her baby sign language. CAN THIS BE TRUE? HAPPENED TO YOU??? it just seems soo weird....whats your opinion???

Answer 1

My nephew was taught to use sign language and he also didn't learn to speak until after 2yrs of age, simply because he had no need to. His ability to express his major concerns with sign language may have thwarted his ability to speak, but even now at 5yrs of age, he suffers from minor speech problems, so it could very well that he just had a harder time adjusting. Its hard to pin whether the cause was the sign language or another social challenge that he faces, but it definitely has the possibility to have affected the delay since he had no real "need" to force himself to learn how to communicate.

Answer 2

Well, first of all, you didn't say how old the child in question is. There is a "range" of normal for developing speech skills. Some children speak clearly from a very early age, others don't speak at all for a long time, then suddenly begin speaking in complete sentences. The range varies widely in between. If she's under 2, she's probably still within normal range.

My aunt's husband (my uncle) is deaf, she is hearing. Their children HAVE to learn sign to communicate with their father. All of them can sign and speak very well. They didn't have any delays in speech as toddlers.

I do not believe teaching a child to sign can cause a speech delay, especially if you do it the way most parents do, by showing the sign and saying the word at the same time. If the child has a speech delay, knowing sign can help with communication until the speech delay is addressed, and could help reduce frustration for the parents and the child.

Answer 3

Are you saying that they taught her sign language and that teaching her to sign has caused a delay in speech? How old is the child? She may be perfectly on track for her age in speech. Does the child use signing as her communication method? If so, then she is probably "saying" a lot more words than they are counting. Actual speech- words coming from the mouth, as well as the words she signs would all be considered "expressive" speech, and counted as words. Sign language actually helps infants and toddlers to boost their language skills, not delay them. It helps to give them a way to communicate with others- relieving frustration as they try to learn to "talk" to other people. I taught my own daughter sign when she was an infant, and it really helped before she was able to say words. As she developed the ability to speak, the signing faded. Now, at 2 1/2, she speaks in 10-15 word sentences. I also use sign at the preschool I work at for children with disabilities... signing is a wonderful mode of communication. I bet if they look closer and count actual words as well as signs that they will find that their daughter is on track verbally.

Answer 4

My daughter is two and you can carry on full conversations with her in terms of speaking. She has an excellent vocabulary for her age and LOVES to talk. We also have taught her sign language, and she does great with that as well. I have heard that signing can impede a childs ability to talk, but my daughter has a better vocab. than a lot of toddlers her age, so this does not happen in every case. I do not know any one else teaching their child sign language so I can't really speak for the other side of the story, but I love teaching her the language!

Answer 5

Babies can learn sign language much earlier than they can learn to speak. They recommend starting at around 6 months. I've been doing the sign for milk with my daughter for about a month now, she's almost 7 months. She starts giggling and flaps her hands and feet when she's hungry. When she's not hungry, she doesn't respond. She probably won't be able to ask for milk by using the sign for a couple more months. I'm going to start with other basic signs soon too. ie, more, please etc.
God Bless

Answer 6

I am a nanny and I have a 15 month old little girl that I keep and we have taut her sign language. She also speaks a few word now, but as your teaching them you need to speak to them to. Everything we play with or she points to we tell her what it is. The main signs we taut her was please, thank you, food, water, hurt. She is very smart and everyone is always so amazed at a little 15 month old telling them please or thank you. But you should do both it great for them to learn at such a young age. When I have kids I'm doing it, some kids just don't talk til later but they all grow and learn at there own pace.

Answer 7

The local technical college offers a baby sign language course. They say that babies are able to communicate with their hands and body language before they are able to form words. Supposedly it helps them advance quicker when they get older also. My friend is currently taking the sign language course and the baby is able to sign mama, dada, and a couple other words but according to normal standards she shouldn't be able to talk for another 2 months.

Answer 8

i've seen people on tv teaching the infants sign languae and i think it's a great idea then the baby can expressitself before it is oldenough to talk . it's go tto make it easier on the parents cause they know what their child wants

Answer 9

well of course that would happen. if a baby is capable of speech, but they pretty much taught it not to speak, why would to it try. i understand wanting your children to know another language or sign language, but let them learn how to talk first.