Feeling Better/Taking Action! - Autism Spectrum Message Board

Ms-Trixi · 01-03-2007, 09:11 PM

So, instead of sitting around crying and being depressed that my son may never speak. I decided to take action.
I registered for a college course in American Sign Language. I read some reports saying that some autistic children that learned sign language started to speak.
At the very least I can stop worrying about my son never talking and work on teaching him sign language as an alternative form of communication.
He turned 4 in September and I feel that the language area of his brain still has time to kick in. He just started really understanding us within the past 6 months. They say that receptive language (understanding) proceeds expressive language (speech) and I think this is the perfect time to teach him sign language.
All of my son's therapists say that he is very bright, learns quickly, and has an excellent memory. He also makes good eye-contact and understands well. I think that he is choosing not to speak (he babbles and makes all of the vowel and consonant sounds). He uses pecs sometimes, but we can't keep his cards out because my two-year old takes them and plays with them and rips the schedule page off of the wall. We do have some pecs available for him on the side of the refrigerator and he uses them at times- but it is so hard to have the exact one when we need it and I feel better using ASL.
So, he has school, aba therapy, pecs, and now sign language to get him going. I will do whatever I have to to be able to communicate with him.
Prayers and Blessings to all and thanks for all of the support that I have received on this board.
Linda

Laenini · 01-03-2007, 09:34 PM

My oldest child (who is NT) knows ASL (it was her foreign language choice in high school and she really took to it. She tutors it now in college and can function in a pinch as an interpreter) and she did teach my youngest to sign a bit before he finally started speaking. He only had a few signs he used, and once he started talking his use of them faded away. It was interesting though that for a short while when his speech was finally developing he would revert to a sign if he was stressed. The signs she taught him were very basic, things like needing to use the toilet, needing a drink of water, etc. We also used a modified version of PECS (more at preschool then at home) and those PECS cards were used much, much longer and even continue today to a small extent (like making activity choices at daycare, having a visual schedule for him to follow, etc).

On a side note, an inexpensive laminating kit to protect a few key PECS cards might keep them safe from your toddler.

I'm glad you are feeling better! I know I always feel better when I have a game plan that I'm working on. Its when I feel lost and don't know what I could or should be doing that I feel my worst.

My best wishes!
Leanne

9CatMom · 01-04-2007, 07:53 AM

Good luck to you, Linda!

Ms-Trixi · 01-04-2007, 11:07 AM

Thank you for the informative and positive replies. I have seen more studies showing that sign language can help activate the language area in the brain. I am very hopeful and excited.
My son has been such a sweetie this week. He picks up his toys every night with his two-year old brother when we ask him to. He has really been listening and responding very well. Seems like he is on the verge of making a lot of progress. I think this will help us both.
Best wishes
Linda

Laenini · 01-04-2007, 11:37 AM

Everything you have posted Linda about your son sounds so much like my Zachary. Their temperament sounds similar, and when you describe the level your son is at in his language development I can so picture my own Zach right there too when he was about 4-4.5. My Zach is 9 now and last night after I posted to you I noticed he was in bed but still awake. I went in and snuggled with him a bit and asked him if he can remember using sign language. He didn't remember, but it did lead to a big conversation between he and I about his problems talking, and what autism is and what it means to him to have autism. I think it was the deepest conversation he and I have ever had! I first want to thank you for triggering that conversation between Zach and I, I think it was good for both of us! And second, I know in my heart of hearts that someday you are going to have similar conversations with your son. Have faith! Your son is still a bit younger than Zach was when he finally started, and Zach moved through the same stages you have described in your son at about the same times. He seemed to first start to understand language, and then his babbling increased. Then he picked up a single word here and there and finally around 5 he started to hook more than one word together at a time. Now at 9 he can talk, but he stammers and struggles sometimes. But he is understandable and he can communicate without any aids! Your son is going to get there too, I just know it!

Best wishes,
Leanne