Babies with Special Developmental Needs
If you are the parent of a baby with special developmental needs, you may wonder if your child is capable of learning sign. You might be surprised to know that sign language has been taught to many babies with astounding results. The severity and nature of a child’s limitations will determine whether or not he is capable of learning sign language. It is encouraging to note, however, that numerous parents have been successful in demonstrating sign language to children with a wide array of conditions.
Many conditions can result in speech delays, but some of the most common include apraxia of speech, autism, Down syndrome, prematurity, and specific language impairment. If your child has been diagnosed with any of these conditions, you will likely find it encouraging to know that many other children with the same conditions do extraordinarily well with sign language and are often better communicators than their nonsigning peers.
E-ALERT
Because most children do not experience significant leaps in speech development until they are eighteen months old, delays in speech cannot be accurately assessed until a child is between eighteen and twenty-four months of age. However, it is important to mention concerns you have about your child at any age to your child’s pediatrician.
Apraxia of speech (also known as verbal apraxia, verbal dyspraxia, or developmental apraxia of speech) is a somewhat common neurological speech disorder in which a child (or person of any age) is unable to consistently voice his thoughts intelligibly. It has been found that children who have this condition are usually quite capable of understanding spoken language even if they are unable to express themselves. Because of this comprehension, children with apraxia of speech can often learn to use sign language to effectively communicate.
AutismAutism is an extremely common disorder. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, autism affects one out of 150 people, most commonly boys. People with autism have difficulty communicating and relating socially with other people. Other common behavior traits in individuals with autism are repetitive behaviors or strict adherence to routines. Generally, autism can be accurately diagnosed by the time a child is three years old; however, diagnoses can sometimes be made much earlier. Because autism greatly affects a child’s ability to communicate, a child who has autism may benefit from the use of sign language.
Down SyndromeDown syndrome is a well-recognized and somewhat common condition. The National Down Syndrome Society estimates that the condition occurs in one in 733 live births. Down syndrome is usually associated with some degree of mental retardation, meaning that children who have the condition learn and develop at a slower pace than their peers.
E-FACT
Contrary to some beliefs, studies have proven that children (including those with Down syndrome) will stop using signs once they can express themselves effectively through speech. That is, when others begin to understand your child, your child will no longer need to use signs. Of course, you can encourage the use of signs for as long as you wish after that.
In spite of their delayed development, children with Down syndrome are often creative communicators. Though they may have difficulty speaking, they frequently use gestures and animated facial expressions to express themselves. This natural inclination to communicate with their hands and face makes these children ideal candidates for sign language.
PrematurityWhen a baby is born prematurely, his developmental progress is usually measured not by his chronological age but by his adjusted age. A child’s adjusted age is the age he would be had he been born full-term. For instance, a baby who was two months premature will have an adjusted age of six months when he reaches eight months of age. This means that his skills will likely be on par with an average six-month-old instead of an eight-month-old. Because speech is one of the skills that may be delayed in the premature infant, sign language can be of tremendous benefit to the preemie and his family.
Specific Language ImpairmentSpecific language impairment (SLI) is a common but somewhat vague disorder. The degree of incidence varies from one age to another. A University of Kansas study revealed that SLI effects between 7 and 8 percent of children who are kindergarten age. Children with SLI may have normal or above-average intelligence. Although SLI does not have any effect on hearing, sign language is one way in which to help bridge the communication gap for children with this disorder.
