sign langauge?

[jessgray]

after talking to ds1's gp who reffered (sp?) ds1 to a ENT specialist to get his hearing problems checked out (more info see http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=28789)
she (the gp) said ds1 has moderate hearing loss in the ear that may have fluid in it and the other is mild hearing loss (they think wax is blocking this ear) anyway, she basically said we shouldnt get our hopes up on ds starting to talk anytime soon. :gloomy:
so i have been thinking is there a basic form of sign i can teach ds1 so he can communicate with us till we know if his hearing will be permanently like this (we have to wait 12 months).

[squishysmum]

you could try makaton, i think it is based on auslan. it uses only essential words rather than full sentences, and the thing is that you say the word while using signs. i think they have a website, check it out. a speech therapist might be able to advise you.

hth.:)

[Nan]

Jess, I have PMed you.
Love,
Nan. xx

[Chickadee]

There should be links to some information on baby sign language in the Bubhub Info Directory (link in the left hand menu).

[red apple]

Hi

I've gotten this book out of the library: http://www.baby-talk.co.nz/shop/default.asp

It's fairly comprehensive, explains things nicely. I saw in the paper recently that you boost your baby's IQ if you do use signs. And it can cut down on the tantrums by 50%.

The photos in the book are pretty goofy, but they do that to make the signs clear.

I have photocopid the bits I feel are relevant: manners, food, bathtime/bedtime stuff, feelings. Not so much the farmyard animals. My only criticism is that they have signs for biscuit, icecream, cracker and lolly, and not hummus, carrot sticks and food that they should be requesting! No child of mine is going to learn the sign of icecream! So I'll have to make my own signs.

Good luck out there. Hope your bub gets better.

[nicoleE]

There are a few out there and I personally like TinyTalk (www.tinytalk.com.au) and I have even already purchased the DVD! However if there was a chance he may need to use sign language when he is older then maybe it might be best to use something that is the standard in sign language, TinyTalk (and most others) use variations which make it easier for the babies to pick up with their limited fine motor skills.

[jessgray]

thanks for the replies and pm's :)
at the moment ds1 just uses pointing as a way to communicate and pointing can mean a million things :confused: it could mean hey mum look at that tree or take me over there or did you see the car? its so hard to know. he can hear a bit but when there is background noise he finds it hard to hear so he will get distracted and wander off.

i am going to research all the different types everyone mentioned :)

edited to add: this is the makton australia site http://www.newcastle.edu.au/centre/sed/makaton/victoria.html for anyone who is intrested.

[Mrs Potts]

This one was on 9am this morning and is Auslan:
http://www.australianbabyhands.com/

I imagine the book would be much cheaper than the TinyTalk pack too.