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Picture Exchange vs. Sign language

AmamsnebAmamsneb
in Special Needs

We've finally gotten some therapies lined up for DS (26 months, autism).  He starts OT this coming week, and likely speech the week after that.  Still working on getting the local ABA person to work with our EI program but she just got approved to do medicare and med-waiver, so it looks good that our EI program won't be far behind.

Additionally, we have a fantastic infant/toddler developmental specialist, who is sort of coordinating things, and has been coming every week for awhile now.  She's great at making sure we're prepared for things like the visit with his developmental pedi and the neurologist.   

She's advised us to decide whether we want the SLP to work with him either on learning to sign or PECS.  I see a lot of possible benefits to either strategy, but wanted to chat with you all about your experiences.

DS doesn't really like having his hands touched.  He's okay with touching our hands (to lead us where he wants to go, or to direct us, etc.), but only barely tolerates hand-over-hand for things like eating and self care.  We try to guide him to sign more, and please, and bath, but he's just not crazy about it, and I think it may hinder him from absorbing the meaning of the signs.

What I like about sign is that it's very focused on eye contact and keeping eyes at face level, and for DS, that makes a HUGE difference.  Our best interactions are when we can get him to look us in the eye.  PECS, as I understand it, is less about eye contact, but I've had less education on that method, so if I'm wrong, please correct me.

On the other hand, he's such a visual kiddo and loves pictures of things, and even words and their correlation to various sounds (points to his name and the word "love" so I'll say them), that I wonder if we wouldn't be more able to help him communicate with us faster through this method.

It feels a little like a trade off.  We either take our time and have more chances to teach him that communication is something we do with words and facial expression, or we get him communicating as fast as possible so he can learn and grow everything he can.

Sorry if this is convoluted.  It helps to organize my thinking on the page.  Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! 

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Re: Picture Exchange vs. Sign language

  • mjsweetgirlmjsweetgirl member

    We are doing a combination and it is just now clicking with DS. He uses signs for all done, more, and please. For him it has been more of a motor planning issue with signing but in the last week he has started using help and open. But we have been hand over hand signing it for him for about 6 months. Every child is so different and as we are learning with DS things with him can change week to week and we've had to learn to go with the flow. We have been using pictures especially for choices and requesting (food items, activities, etc) and also for routines such as bed time and for when he goes to school. It depends on what you feel like would best benefit your child and your family. DS got his ASD dx at 28 months and is non verbal. He has been doing a lot more babbling and imitation but we still don't have any solid words except for "yeah" which he uses appropriately about 50% of the time. 

    I hope that was somewhat helpful. Definitely work with your SLP to find the right fit for your son and family. It takes time and A LOT of patience. You're doing a great job and remember to take it one day at a time. 

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  • mjsweetgirlmjsweetgirl member
    Your path is SO much like ours in regards to the services your son is receiving. If you ever want someone to talk with please don't hesitate to reach out. My email is meganjune@gmail.com. DS started receiving services in Nov last year for a dev delay and we didn't get his ASD dx until Jan of this year. Its quite the journey but you are already on such a great start and doing all the right things! 
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  • Assembly_ReqdAssembly_Reqd member

    I do not have an ASD child however, I do have a hard of hearing child who is apraxic. PECs have been offered and we are also learning sign language. PECs seem like a huge PITA to me and I have told our SLP that I am not a fan. Mainly because with sign, you always have your hands available, so ASL seems easier in my mind. With PECS, there is just one more "thing" between you and direct communication with your child. IMO, having to always have the PECS available would totally suck.

    If your son is a visual learner, he will figure out how to sign without you having to do any hand over hand. Signing, just like speaking, involves exposing a child to a sign at least 50 times before it is placed in memory. Nate was exposed to sign for aboout 4 months before he produced his first sign at age 12 months. He has a definite motor planning deficit (hypoplasia of the corpus callosum) At 30 months he can produce over 95 signs. He had a huge sign explosion at 25 months. I have rarely done hand over hand with him. I would think that doing a bit of hand over hand could actually help desensitize your son. Nate also enjoys using the video sign language app on our iPad. He will scroll through the list and "pick' something, watch the video and try and replicate the sign.

    I would start by working on both. We are also doing speech with Nate. He has about 12 "words", so for us, signing is the answer at this time. You don't need to make a final decision now. Your son will be the one to tell you which option works best for him.

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  • realisticdreamsrealisticdreams member

    I have no personal experience but I do agree with auntie on ASL and how it could be very isolating in the future.  I've followed a couple of moms journey's with communication devices, and this one uses PECS.  You can find her older entries as well they have been using it for probably 5 months now, this is her 4 month entry.  GL in your choice, and remember neither is set in stone!

    https://niederfamily.blogspot.com/2012/05/this-is-what-4-months-of-using-aac.html 

    DD1(4):VSD & PFO (Closed!), Prenatal stroke, Mild CP, Delayed pyloric opening/reflux, Brachycephaly & Plagiocephaly, Sacral lipoma, Tethered spinal cord, Compound heterozygous MTHFR, Neurogenic bladder, Urinary retention & dyssynergia, incomplete emptying, enlarged Bladder with Poor Muscle Tone, EDS-Type 3. Mito-Disorder has been mentioned

    DD2(2.5): Late term premie due to PTL, low fluid & IUGR, Reflux, delayed visual maturation, compound heteroygous MTHFR, PFAPA, Bilateral kidney reflux, Transient hypogammaglobulinemia, EDS-Type 3


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  • Florak8Florak8
    We use sign as a bridge for DS who is speech-delayed. I asked the school psych about it at one of our transition meetings. I wanted to know if the teachers at the SN preschool program would be familiar with his signs. She said they actually tend to steer families toward PECS if needed, because more people can look at a picture and identify it than can interpret signing. This made me sad, but I understand that logic.
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  • Assembly_ReqdAssembly_Reqd member
    AHHH...I do see what you mean about the isolation of ASL. My perspective is a little bit different because I fully expect Nate to be able to use speech someday. Since we are planning on attending our local school for the deaf, ASL as stigmatizing is not really on my radar yet.....ugh. I suppose if we do want to try mainstream and he is not talking any better in a couple of years, PECS will have to be back on the table.
    WAY 2 Cool 4 School


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