Sign Language & Autism / Special Needs

Sign language is most often thought of in the context of the deaf community. But, as this website demonstrates, it can also be taught to pre-verbal babies, with numerous benefits for parent and child.  Research also shows that sign language is often beneficial for children with special needs which effect their speech and/or social development, such as autism, apraxia or downs syndrome.  

Teaching a child sign language usually has great academic benefits, especially for children with special needs.  Some children have an impairment that affects his ability to make auditory and visual connections.  Sign language helps trigger that area of the brain linked to speech and language development, thus helping to expand the child’s vocabulary and enhancing speech development. 

       When a child’s speech development is enhanced, so are his social and emotional skills.  Children with special needs can be very frustrated when communication becomes difficult.  This frustration may manifest itself in the form of depression or tantrums and aggression.  Sign language can help remove communication barriers and eliminate much of the frustration associated with the same.  By expanding his vocabulary, and eliminating communication barriers, the child will have more independence and greater self esteem and behave in a more socially accepted manner.

Autism/Special Need References:

• Advice for Parents of Autism.  Adams, James B., Stephen M.     Edelson, Temple Grandin and Bernard Rimland. 2008.  .
• Signing and Autistic Children.  Jordan, Rita.  2008.  < http://www.nas.org.uk>. 
• Creedon, M. P.  1973 Language development in Non-verbal Autistic children using a simultaneous communication system.  Paper presented at The Society for Research in Child Development Meeting.  Philadelphia, March 1973.
• Konstantareas, M. M. 1981.  Simultaneous Communication, Signs as an aid to speech, Combining Techniques.  In:  Autism:  A  Primer, Konstantareas, M. M., Blackstock, E. G. and Webster, C. Montreal.  The Quebec Society for Autistic Children. 
• Reid, B. D. 1984.  The Acquisition and Recall of Signs and Words by Mentally Handicapped Children in J. Berg (Ed.)  Perspectives and Progress in Mental Retardation:  Volume 1.  Social, Psychological and Educational Aspects.  Baltimore.  MD.  University Park Press.    
• Alternative Augmentative Communication for Children with Autism:  PECS and Sign. 
  < http://sitemaker.umich.edu>. 
• Childhood Apraxia and the Benefits of Sign Language. 
  language-speech-benefits.html>.

Baby Sign Language Home Page
Research and Data on Signing Babies
Information on Baby Sign Language Book and Video
How to Succeed in Teaching Baby Sign Language