| Is your child late to talk? Have you ruled out any | | | | want to introduce signing, I wondered. |
| possibility of hearing loss? Does he clearly | | | | Children know their own abilities and limitations and |
| understand much of what you say but is unable | | | | will use signs differently. Some will use a few signs |
| to speak yet? | | | | for just a few weeks as they develop and |
| As parents we are right to be concerned when | | | | practice their speech sounds and skills, while |
| our babies do not reach their developmental | | | | others will be content to employ them for longer, |
| milestones. First may I say that the majority of | | | | usually alongside their developing speech, until the |
| parental concerns will turn out to be delayed | | | | point at which they are fully confident. Most |
| speech, meaning that the child understands but is | | | | children will drop the signing when they become |
| unable to express himself and will catch up in time. | | | | confident speakers and children with additional |
| A number of children however, will have very | | | | needs may continue to use signing for a little |
| specific speech and language disorders. may not | | | | longer. |
| understand much of what they hear and will go | | | | My 18 month old grand-daughter only ever used |
| on to need very specialist support and education. | | | | one sign, and used it until she was three. Her very |
| It is therefore vital that parents do express their | | | | stubborn streak prevented her from vocalising |
| concerns to a relevant health professional. | | | | the word 'please' so there were some battles |
| As our hearing baby grows and develops, we | | | | between her and mum when she requested |
| agonise over whether or not his lack of speech | | | | things. She was delighted to be shown the sign |
| sounds, words and phrases is normal, does he | | | | for please and it became an automatic reaction |
| have difficulties expressing himself and will he be | | | | that she used adoringly and to good effect from |
| understood by others outside the home | | | | then on. |
| environment. | | | | Important facts about baby sign language. |
| With speech therapy waiting lists growing ever | | | | - Signing with hearing babies is always |
| longer it is worth being alert and doing as much as | | | | accompanied by speech and normal conversation. |
| you can to give your baby the best possible start | | | | Only keywords are signed, in the same way as a |
| in communicating effectively. In parts of Ireland | | | | parent ordinarily emphases vocabulary when |
| for example in November 2009 average waiting | | | | speaking to their baby or toddler. |
| period for assessment was 17-22 months while | | | | - Signs are formalized gestures that convey |
| the waiting time for treatment was 24-32 month. | | | | meaning between the parent and child. These |
| Similar statistics are reported in other parts of the | | | | signs will likely be the closest approximation he |
| UK, in America and Australia too. | | | | can manage of the sign you taught him, given his |
| The particular difficulty with baby milestones, | | | | age and developing body awareness. You will |
| however, is that they provide only a rough guide | | | | come to know the subtleties, and be able to |
| to what is 'normal' or average development. Each | | | | clarify the meaning with your child. All this leads to |
| child is unique and there may be many other | | | | better communication between you. |
| factors to take into account, so they are open to | | | | - Signs are made in front of the body, thereby |
| interpretation, which needless to say may also be | | | | drawing attention to the face, to overall body |
| influenced by funding issues among service | | | | language and to the purpose of communication. |
| providers. Understandably, there is no endless pot | | | | - Signs may come from Makaton, baby sign |
| of money and they have to prioritize access to | | | | language, ASL, BSL or the equivalent in your |
| their services. | | | | country. If your child attends preschool or nursery |
| Is baby signing right for you and your child? | | | | then familiarise staff with the signs your child |
| My frustrations may have been obvious when my | | | | uses. |
| niece recently commented on her 22 month old | | | | On a more personal note. |
| son's lack of words or intelligible phrases. My | | | | As kids we thought nothing of using signs for tea, |
| suggestion that she use baby sign language to | | | | coffee, yes, no, drink, telephone, dinner, OK, stop. |
| encourage communication was greeted with | | | | We all worked in the family timber yard where |
| laughter and she dismissed the idea saying, 'I've | | | | you could not hear or be heard above the sound |
| heard that it will stop him talking? I guess it was | | | | of the circular-saw benches and chopping |
| not an enlightened audience, even though she | | | | machines. We never thought of it as sign language |
| knew my background as a Specialist Teacher. | | | | but effective communication... and we never wore |
| Only yesterday I read a comment in a forum | | | | ear defenders in those days! |
| from a mother, who said signing did not work for | | | | We all want the best possible start for our |
| her daughter...and then went on to say that her | | | | children. Don't delay, your child needs you. |
| daughter was an early talker. Why then did she | | | | |