American Sign Language and Autism

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) provides those with speech and language limitations the ability to express themselves through signs and physical positioning. There are many types of sign languages, reflecting the influences of the grammar, society, social behavior and other cultural and social factors of different cultures. American Sign Language, or ASL, is one such powerful instrument for the learning of communication skills in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or Asperger syndrome.

American Sign Language has very clear and well-recognized signs for certain objects and actions. There are many stages to learn of the ASL pattern. First, the stepwise signs are introduced to a child with autism and slowly more complex signs are introduced over the course of the training period. There are many item categories in ASL, including family, foods, time, places, clothes, feelings, requests and replies, amounts, animals, money, and many other topics.

It is imperative to use the proper sequence for learning sign language modules so that constructive and fruitful training sessions may be achieved. Signing gives a child a way to ask for things. When a child can ask, behavior that served the same purpose, such as tantrums or aggression, often decreases.

Benefits of American Sign Language

The syntax is very unique and different from normal English language. Through the implementation of ASL communication skills development, the following desired results have been observed:

Families and clinicians report less frustration and less problem behavior once a child can sign requests. Research on augmentative and alternative communication, sign included, has found that it does not stop children from learning to speak, and in many studies speech increased (Millar, Light & Schlosser, 2006).

There are thousands of signs developed and formatted in ASL to provide a depiction of the items, relationships and activities communicated.  These signs have been in use since the early nineteenth century and are a practical starting point for many families.

ASL is a full language with its own grammar. Programs for autistic children usually teach single signs together with the spoken word, rather than full ASL.

 References:

Millar, D. C., Light, J. C., & Schlosser, R. W. (2006). The impact of augmentative and alternative communication intervention on the speech production of individuals with developmental disabilities: A research review. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 49(2), 248–264.

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