Help with signing

kb3ll · July 2013

My 20 month old son was daignosed with autism yesterday (while they have not told us a specified spectrum yet, we expect to hear one shortly after another assessment). In addition to a laundry list of "Homework" the care coordinator asked us to try to teach him the sign for book. While I know this is not going to happen overnight, I have been working with him on "book" since yesterday afternoon. I have tried cupping his hands in mine and saying book while having one in front of us. I have tried saying the word and signing at the same time (several times in a row) so he can see and hear it at the same time. I do not feel he is making any connection between the word, object or sign at all... Nor can I get him to pay him attention long enough to focus on this. I do not know how long I'm supposed to work with this with him per day? 1 hour? 2 hours? Just when he brings a book over. Any advice would be extremely helpful.

mamantraining · July 2013

The best times to work on signs are when your son is motivated i.e. wants a book. Trying to get him to sign book when he is doing other things will likely not yield results. So maybe pick a time during the day that you read books or do it as appropriate throughout the day.

It's not likely that he will start signing after one day. He may need multiple sessions of hand over hand in order to even make a connection. Don't get discouraged. Is that the only thing he's motivated by? I would also work on anything else that is highly motivating i.e. food.

Baby signing time has a good set of DVDs for younger kids. I rent them sometimes through the library.

mamantraining · July 2013

I would also have him sign with your help book or whatever the item is once and give him the item right away. That will help make the connection "if I sign this I will get this"

mommy0411 · July 2013

I agree with the others. Every time he brings your a book sign book to him 3 times then do hand over hand and help him sign book if he doesn't attempt a sign. It took my DS about a month to pick up he first sign. Other good ones to start with are food, more, all done, drink, milk andany favorite items he might have. (i.e. my son loves crackers so we taught him that sign) You want to give him the tools to communicate his needs. My DS loves signing and it has really help decrease his frustration. He was also diagnosed with ASD at 20 months. Good luck!

mommytoconnor · July 2013

This takes time, it isn't something that he is going to pick up within a few days. Each time he brings a book to you say and sign book like 3 times in a row and try to do what you are doing by doing it with his hands too. Keep at it. It is a slow process, be consistent.

Assembly_Reqd · July 2013

On average a child needs to be exposed to a spoken or signed word at least 50 times before they are able to replicate/repeat it. You also have to consider that your child's fine motor abilities will also affect the ability to produce signs.

You may want to start with signs that only need one hand a limited motor capabilities. mommy, daddy, eat, milk.

Our son's first sign was more and that happened at age 12 months which was about four months after we started signing with him. He was also attending a baby program at our local school for the deaf and being exposed to the sign 'more' at every meal. He still does not do the sign more correctly because his fine motor skills get in the way. What he does sign is close enough. Eventually he will refine it.

Keep working and try incorporating signs when there is a reward involved similar to what other people said. During meals is the best time for signing. I he is in the high chair you will have a more captive audience. Also, we would look at books after meals while Nate was still in the high chair. It gave me a chance to reintroduce new signs by using his favorite books.

ali0608 · July 2013

mamantraining:
I would also have him sign with your help book or whatever the item is once and give him the item right away. That will help make the connection "if I sign this I will get this"

My DS doesn't have ASD, but had a speech delay and we started teaching him signs at 17 months. It took awhile for him to catch on that if he made the sign, it would get him what he wanted. I would try to limit it to when he brings you a book or when you are putting the books away, etc.

Once he caught on, the rest of the signs were easier. It definitely cut down on frustration since he wasn't able to say what he wanted, but could sign it. We started with the signs for "more" and "all done."

Also, anything close to the right sign should be fine. The point is for him to get his point across. My DS always clapped for more instead of using his fingers. But, in context, it got him more of whatever he wanted.

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