4/28/2015
Using Your Hands
to Bridge the
Communication
Gap
Elizabeth Seeliger, Au.D.
Connie Stevens, M.A.
Circles of Life
April 30, 2015
Overview
Learner objectives



Learn basic communication development
characteristics for early recognition of red
flags.
Articulate how early relationships impact
communication development in infants
and toddlers
Use basic sign language with early
concepts such as nouns, verbs and feeling
words to bridge communication.
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Overview
http://www.parentingcounts.org/information/timeline/talking-with-infants
Communication Develops in the
Context of a Relationship: Mutual Regard
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Communication Develops in the
Context of a Relationship: Mutual Gaze
Communication Develops in the
Context of a Relationship: Joint Attention

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8 weeks: an infant follows an object with his or her eyes
4 months: an infant follows the mother’s eye-gaze
towards an object
Joint attention = paying attention to the same thing,
mutual interest


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Indicates that children understand other people’s intentions.
You can only obtain joint attention when you are in a
relationship with another person.
Children learn better under child initiated“joint-attention”
circumstances.
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Communication Develops in the
Context of a Relationship: Early
Communication


The preverbal gestures
babies make are
purposeful.
Back-and-forth games
between parent and
baby form the basis of
communication (and
attachment,
social/emotional
development, etc.).
Greenspan, 1999
Communication Develops in the
Context of a Relationship

Babies without consistent or responsive two-way
communicative experiences:

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Can become more passive, less organized or less
emotionally expressive.
Learn that their attempts to communicate and be
understood are futile.
Babies with consistent, responsive two-way
communication:


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Learn that their actions and feelings have an impact
on their parent.
Learn they are part of a relationship with their parent.
Develop mutual caring.
Greenspan, 1999
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Building the Bridge
 Sign
can:




language
Reduce frustration.
Facilitate positive
behaviors.
Support expressive
language.
Enhance parentinfant bond.
 Sign
language
cannot create
baby “supergeniuses.”
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Learning Basic Signs: Activity
So What Can You Do?
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You can:

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Set realistic expectations. Feel free to start signing with
children at any age, but remember most children aren’t
able to produce signs until about 8 months of age.
Keep signs simple. Start with signs that describe routine
requests, activities, objects and feelings, but don’t stop
there.
Make it interactive and playful. Try holding baby on
your lap with her or his back to your stomach. Embrace
the baby’s arms and hands to make the sign or sign on
the baby’s body. To give signs context, try signing while
bathing, diapering or feeding. Pair signs with
verbalizations.
Keep calm and carry on. Stay patient. Don’t get
discouraged if the child uses signs incorrectly or doesn’t
start using them right away. The goal is improved
communication and reduced frustration, not
perfection.
Take Home



Communication emerges in infancy in the context
of a relationship with a primary caregiver.
The quality of the social bond between a primary
caregiver and a young child has an impact on the
child’s communication development.
Gestural communication is a naturally occurring
developmental behavior. Sign language is a
natural bridge to aid in communication
development for children who struggle with
expressive language.
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Resources
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Online:
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Aslpro.com
Lifeprint.com
Aslnook.com
Spreadthesign.com:
many different world sign
languages, choose
American

Products:
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www.harriscomm.com:
catalog of videos/books
www.dawnsignpress.com:
“Signs for Me” book
www.dawnsign.com/signlanguage-childrens-seriesset
Courses/curriculum:
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Signingonline.com: course
Baby Signs:
www.babysignstoo.com
Signing Time:
www.signingtime.com
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