Signs...

[mom2ljh]

I'm so proud of my little guy.  He's lost almost all his verbal communication.  We're left with "Mom, Dog, and Bye."  Even, "dada," has gone to the wayside.  So, as we saw this happening, we contacted Early Intervention, but also invested in a DVD to help teach signs.  We still are encouraging speech, but are happy with ANY form of communication he'll use.
We've been using the DVD for about a month and last week we finally saw progress.  He started signing, "more," out of the blue.  He was using it to mean he wanted to eat, but it was a sign, and an attempt at communication nonetheless.  Since then, with some help from us to show him what the meaning of the sign really is, its use has transformed from "I want food or drink," to, "I want more of what I just had," or, "I want more blocks," etc.  He also began using the sign, "eat," a couple days ago.  So now, when he wants to eat, he signs it and grins.  Today, we saw 2 more new signs.  We were looking at the pictures in a book and I pointed to the cow and said, "See the cow?"  I did not use the sign, as I was holding the book.  As soon as I said "cow," he showed me the sign for cow, and all day since that, whenever I've said cow, he has signed it.  He also started using the "dog," sign in combination with using the word.  So now, when he wants one of the dogs, he's hollers, "DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" (dog, in Landonese) while patting his belly.  (His signs aren't perfect, but they're great for a 20 month old, and close enough that we can tell what he's trying to make them.)

[aurorabunny]

Mar. 5, 2009 at 10:38 PM

PBS is playing Baby Signing Time now!  I don't know if those are the DVDs that you're using, but man they're the best!  My son is non-verbal and we rely on signs for communcation as well and Baby Signing Time is the only signing series he will watch because of all the music.

[lilmami81]

Mar. 7, 2009 at 10:11 PM

I am glad things are going better for you and Landy-man :)