Baby Sign and Speech Delay?

[TXhomedaycare]

I have a 27 month old dcb that was taught sign as a baby but he does not talk. He has been here 3 months but he does not talk often and when he does I cannot understand 90% of what he says. During learning time when he does repeat me or participate his noises sound as if he is hearing impaired or he cannot form his mouth the right way to say the words. I was wondering if learning sign language has caused a delay in his speech or at least caused him to not feel the need to talk. When his mom comes she tells him to say bye or thank you and he only signs it. If he wants more food he signs or points and makes noise. He does say mom (what he calls me or I am sure any woman watching him) 1,000 times a day and then points. He doesn't seem delayed in any other areas. My 18 month old dcb and other 2 year old dcb talk way more than he does and his mom makes comments about how well they talk but I told her they don't know sign and they both grew up in a daycare home environment with mixed ages and it seems being exposed to older kids has caused them to grow their vocabulary faster. The 27 mo. Dcb seems happy and very comfortable at my home and does speak a little more than when he started but still not much. Does any body have experience with this? I just wanted to know if teaching a baby sign might cause this issue. Dcb can talk when he is ready I just have always wondered the pros and cons of teaching a baby sign.

[Michael]

More threads on speech delayed: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...eech+-+delayed

[spedmommy4]

No, it wouldn't have caused a speech delay. It could be that the little one is a late talker or he has a speech delay. I would lean more towards speech delay since you mention dcb is having trouble forming words. Little ones can have speech delays and be doing great in all other areas of development.

If the mom is receptive, I would refer her to early intervention. They evaluate and determine if the little one needs services for free. To find the one in your area, do an Internet search for early intervention + your city/state. The mom could also ask her child's pediatrician to refer her to the early intervention program.

[Ariana]

I have seen multiple children who rely heavily on sign and I personally believe it DOES hinder speech development. I didn't teach my own kids signs because kids have ways of telling you what they want without learning sign language. If my kids wanted more or were all done I knew it!!

I personally think sign language is great for kids with delays but I wouldn't teach them until a delay was diagnosed. I think this new surge of baby signs is really affecting developing children and is a "new thing" for parents to say "look what my kid can do".

Either way the damage is done and now he needs to see an SLP for further evaluation. If he is not meeting his milestones he needs to be seen. At this age talking is required.

[KSDC]

I have had lots of children do baby sign with me. Some spoke early and some "on-time" and some were delayed. My daughter was great at baby sign language and went on to speak early according to her screenings.

I truly don't think that baby sign makes has that much of an impact on speech delays. But, it does help with the frustration that little ones have when they can't tell you what they need or want.

I love baby sign language and will continue to use it.

[spedmommy4]

I have seen multiple children who rely heavily on sign and I personally believe it DOES hinder speech development. I didn't teach my own kids signs because kids have ways of telling you what they want without learning sign language. If my kids wanted more or were all done I knew it!!

I personally think sign language is great for kids with delays but I wouldn't teach them until a delay was diagnosed. I think this new surge of baby signs is really affecting developing children and is a "new thing" for parents to say "look what my kid can do".

Either way the damage is done and now he needs to see an SLP for further evaluation. If he is not meeting his milestones he needs to be seen. At this age talking is required.

I agree that it has become a bit of a fad but all current research supports that the use of signing does not cause the delay.

The little ones you've encountered would have experienced a delay or been late talkers regardless of the use of sign. I have noticed late talking/speech delays often occur with particular parenting styles. (Eg: Parent that are not engaged, ones whose kids have a busier social calendar than me ) That could account for what you've noticed as well.

As long as parents and caregivers continue to use language paired with sign, the use of sign should end up being a benefit to a little one.

[Ariana]

I agree that it has become a bit of a fad but all current research supports that the use of signing does not cause the delay.

The little ones you've encountered would have experienced a delay or been late talkers regardless of the use of sign. I have noticed late talking/speech delays often occur with particular parenting styles. (Eg: Parent that are not engaged, ones whose kids have a busier social calendar than me ) That could account for what you've noticed as well.

As long as parents and caregivers continue to use language paired with sign, the use of sign should end up being a benefit to a little one.

It is definitely odd that I have noticed the exact opposite happening. Of course I am just referring to anecdotal evidence and not research but it is still my opinion. I do agree that signing HAS to be paired with language, each and every time you use it in order for the child to understand the connection in the brain.

[safechner]

Learning sign Language DO NOT cause the delay. I am deaf myself. I have three kids, one is profoundly deaf, second is hearing, and third is hard of hearing. My daughter is hearing and I taught her sign language when she was an infant. ASL is kinda of her first language but she went speak in full language by 18 months old. Her first word "NO" when she was 5 months old. :-) He could be late talker or speech delay. My husband was late talker until he was 3 years old and he had to go speech therapy. Every children are different.

I personally think sign language is great for kids to learn before talk because they will be able to tell you what they want. They will be able to communicate with you instead frustration. Hope it helps.

I have a 27 month old dcb that was taught sign as a baby but he does not talk. He has been here 3 months but he does not talk often and when he does I cannot understand 90% of what he says. During learning time when he does repeat me or participate his noises sound as if he is hearing impaired or he cannot form his mouth the right way to say the words. I was wondering if learning sign language has caused a delay in his speech or at least caused him to not feel the need to talk. When his mom comes she tells him to say bye or thank you and he only signs it. If he wants more food he signs or points and makes noise. He does say mom (what he calls me or I am sure any woman watching him) 1,000 times a day and then points. He doesn't seem delayed in any other areas. My 18 month old dcb and other 2 year old dcb talk way more than he does and his mom makes comments about how well they talk but I told her they don't know sign and they both grew up in a daycare home environment with mixed ages and it seems being exposed to older kids has caused them to grow their vocabulary faster. The 27 mo. Dcb seems happy and very comfortable at my home and does speak a little more than when he started but still not much. Does any body have experience with this? I just wanted to know if teaching a baby sign might cause this issue. Dcb can talk when he is ready I just have always wondered the pros and cons of teaching a baby sign.

[AmyKidsCo]

I don't think that signing causes speech delay, unless the child is allowed to only sign and not encouraged to talk.

Is he an only child? Do the parents converse with him or talk over him? If he's a youngest, do older siblings talk for him? Our youngest hardly talked until he was over 2 because he had 5 older siblings to talk for him so the "point and grunt" worked for him.

However, since you said he seems hearing impaired and/or not forming his mouth correctly, have you observed to see if his hearing seems normal? Does he turn his head toward sounds or seem oblivious to them? Does he use his mouth normally at other times - eating and drinking? Is he overly drooly or seem to have trouble swallowing?

If it's not a physical impairment, a strategy that works for me is "I can't understand that, can you say ___________?"

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

I don't think that signing causes speech delay, unless the child is allowed to only sign and not encouraged to talk.

If it's not a physical impairment, a strategy that works for me is "I can't understand that, can you say ___________?"

^^This. Idc what "research" says. I have been providing daycare for almost 14 years, and I can see that it DOES delay speech. I have a preschool teacher from our local public school that comes once a month to my daycare, and she told me that there has been a large influx of kids with no developmental delays or health issues other than speech delays, but they sure can sign like nobody's business.

I've taken courses on baby sign, and the biggest thing is to *say it with emphasis* while you sign it, which a lot of the DCMs don't do. You should also encourage the baby to try to say it while they sign. All babies use "sign language" of points and gestures they make up on their own, so I think teaching ASL to a hearing child with no connections to a hearing impaired person is hooey. JMO

[daycarediva]

I have seen multiple children who rely heavily on sign and I personally believe it DOES hinder speech development. I didn't teach my own kids signs because kids have ways of telling you what they want without learning sign language. If my kids wanted more or were all done I knew it!!

I personally think sign language is great for kids with delays but I wouldn't teach them until a delay was diagnosed. I think this new surge of baby signs is really affecting developing children and is a "new thing" for parents to say "look what my kid can do".

Either way the damage is done and now he needs to see an SLP for further evaluation. If he is not meeting his milestones he needs to be seen. At this age talking is required.

It is definitely odd that I have noticed the exact opposite happening. Of course I am just referring to anecdotal evidence and not research but it is still my opinion. I do agree that signing HAS to be paired with language, each and every time you use it in order for the child to understand the connection in the brain.

^^This. Idc what "research" says. I have been providing daycare for almost 14 years, and I can see that it DOES delay speech. I have a preschool teacher from our local public school that comes once a month to my daycare, and she told me that there has been a large influx of kids with no developmental delays or health issues other than speech delays, but they sure can sign like nobody's business.

I've taken courses on baby sign, and the biggest thing is to *say it with emphasis* while you sign it, which a lot of the DCMs don't do. You should also encourage the baby to try to say it while they sign. All babies use "sign language" of points and gestures they make up on their own, so I think teaching ASL to a hearing child with no connections to a hearing impaired person is hooey. JMO

Just referred a child to EI for speech delay. Mom ONLY signs with her. The speech therapist said this baby signing fad is costing the state a lot of money because parents are using it IN STEAD of speech, not IN ADDITION to.

I have also seen the same trend- later speech in kids with sign language. I refuse to use it here at all, and the ST thanked me profusely for that. ::

[mamamanda]

I taught both of my boys basic baby sign language. Not a ton, but they learned several signs that helped with frustration. That being said they also both spoke very early. When I took my older son in for his 2 year well check he immediately started up a conversation with the doctor using 6 word sentences. The Dr had a full conversation with him and then said, "I'm supposed to check to see that he's using approximately 50 words and beginning to put 2 word sentences together. I guess we don't have to worry about that." :: My 15 mo says probably 15-20 words regularly and started putting 3 and 4 words together about a week ago. He woke up on Thanksgiving and said, "I want get up." I was surprised, but he's been doing that more and more. Signing obviously hasn't stunted their speech at all but I will say I didn't rely on the signing exclusively either. We signed for the basics, but I always used my words and repeated what they were signing before handing them anything.

[daycarediva]

I taught both of my boys basic baby sign language. Not a ton, but they learned several signs that helped with frustration. That being said they also both spoke very early. When I took my older son in for his 2 year well check he immediately started up a conversation with the doctor using 6 word sentences. The Dr had a full conversation with him and then said, "I'm supposed to check to see that he's using approximately 50 words and beginning to put 2 word sentences together. I guess we don't have to worry about that." :: My 15 mo says probably 15-20 words regularly and started putting 3 and 4 words together about a week ago. He woke up on Thanksgiving and said, "I want get up." I was surprised, but he's been doing that more and more. Signing obviously hasn't stunted their speech at all but I will say I didn't rely on the signing exclusively either. We signed for the basics, but I always used my words and repeated what they were signing before handing them anything.

That's what parents are missing. They're just doing the sign. No words.

[spedmommy4]

^^This. Idc what "research" says. I have been providing daycare for almost 14 years, and I can see that it DOES delay speech. I have a preschool teacher from our local public school that comes once a month to my daycare, and she told me that there has been a large influx of kids with no developmental delays or health issues other than speech delays, but they sure can sign like nobody's business.

I've taken courses on baby sign, and the biggest thing is to *say it with emphasis* while you sign it, which a lot of the DCMs don't do. You should also encourage the baby to try to say it while they sign. All babies use "sign language" of points and gestures they make up on their own, so I think teaching ASL to a hearing child with no connections to a hearing impaired person is hooey. JMO

In those cases, the use of signing did not cause the delay. The parents incorrect use of ASL did. Essentially, they were teaching their child another language and stopped using the first. I'm fairly certain the same thing would happen if the parent started speaking to their child only in Spanish. The child will communicate in the way their family is communicating with them.

I am a licensed early childhood special education teacher, and I would pair sign with words, even for kids with global delays.

And while it is terrible that the parents incorrect usage of sign may be causing speech delays, I do like that sign language is becoming more mainstream. .

[childcaremom]

In those cases, the use of signing did not cause the delay. The parents incorrect use of ASL did. Essentially, they were teaching their child another language and stopped using the first. I'm fairly certain the same thing would happen if the parent started speaking to their child only in Spanish. The child will communicate in the way their family is communicating with them.

I've only had one child whose parents used signing. She was a late talker (well within the range of normal, though) but when she did, it was a complete avalanche of language. Could of just been her 'normal', too.

I have used simple signs 'all done' 'thirsty' 'hungry' for young dcks who were prone to screaming when they wanted something. Always with words and always together. With the group that I have now, one dcg started saying the word within a month (done - instead of throwing her food on the floor) and the 2 others started using the sign (with me repeating the word). Now 3rd month in I have another one saying the word 'done'.

So I do see it's benefits. But I can also see how this could go sideways. If they are not using the spoken language, of course the little ones are not going to use spoken words. They haven't been taught.