All of my Grand parents were deaf and used sign to communicate. I know that they recommend teaching sign to Downs kids and that tey do well with it. Kathryn used to talk about learning it and still does once in a while. Has anybody tried to teach sign language to their spouse? If so how did it work out?
Do you think it would be worth trying? I am just thinking that from what I have read that speech can become a problem.
I am a former speech/language therapist, and our member, Shoegirl, is a current one. In my opinion, it would be too stressful to try to teach her something totally new like sign language.
However, depending on what the communication problems are, we have discussed on this board (somewhere) the use of communication boards. If she cannot speak, or is having trouble coming up with the correct words, an evaluation by a speech/language therapist would be the way to go. She/he can assess your wife's needs and if she feels that a communication board is the way to go, she/he will design one. They are as simple as a one page laminated board wtih pictures of objects that the patient would use/need/want every day or as complex as a notebook with category tabs.
For years I wondered why sign language was not taught in schools, as a second language..In the sixties, esperanto was supposed to become the universal language but it never made any progress....Imagine being to talk to any nationality in sign language...heck you could even speak Chinese....Sometimes I wonder why there is no universal effort to establish a back up form of communication...My only knowledge of sign language unfortunately is an obscene gesture, but I find that it is very well understood by all.....
I agree, phranque, I think sign language should be taught in all schools. Other than "I love you", I have no knowledge of sign language - except your "gesture" - which I suppose is the opposite!
There is the new sign and the old sign. The old sign made more sense and it looks to me like sign is beginning to go back to the old sign. The old sign was easier to understand and didn't seem to matter where you were from. My brother and two of his daughters all serve as free sign language interpreters. Sign was my father's first langauge and my brother and I grew up around it.
Joang, I have never heard of communication boards but I will keep it in mind for later when it may become needed. I hope it never does but I want to be prepared to help my DW however I can. Thank you for the input again.
There is a language called American Sign Language. It has its own rules of grammar just like any other language. Copy and paste this link for more information: http://www.deaflibrary.org/asl.html
When I was working with Special Needs children who had language disorders and could not communicate, we used a watered down version of sign language. Basic simple signs. Not the complex language.
I agree with Joan. If she didn't already know sign language, it will probably too difficult for her to learn something new. I don't know what stage your wife is in Anchor20. But I think it's great that you are "thinking outside the box" and looking for different ways to do things. Sometimes is is a good idea to simplify your language to match our loved ones level of functioning. "Would you like to eat lunch now?" becomes "lunch?" or "eat?" "Time to get dressed dear" becomes "Put you pants on" or even "pants on". Little chunks of information are much easier for them to process. Visuals can help too, such as pointing at what you are talking about.
Another idea is to give choices when they can't find the right word. This depends on the person. B. finds it helpful. Some people might find it annoying.
Thank you all for your input. I do not know how hard or how easy it is to learn because I grew up around it and when you are young you don't even know you are learning anything. You just do.
Kathryn has all the stage 5 symptoms and about three of stage six. I have noticed she is always trying to clear her throat for about the last month and a half. This is something I had never heard her do before and it concerns me. I have made her a regular doctor's appointment for next Thursday for a complete physical including all the lady things.
You should have heard all the ladies there laughing while I was trying to make the physical for her female parts. I didn't know what you called the exams and finally just told them she needed her 50,000 mile female checkup and make sure they checked everything including the tires etc.
Also, we had to sign some papers the other day and she suddenly wasn't able to write her name. She became very upset and I had to help her finish writing it. I have also notice she is having more trouble finishing a thought. It isn't a problem for me because I just know what she needs most of the time.
She is still doing great socially and enjoys going out to eat so we do go out two or three times a week with friends who are all very supportive. They call her during the week while I am at work and just say hello and talk with her a while. Kathryn really enjoys that and tells me they called and they had a lovely talk. I no longer ask her what they talked about because she can't remember and it bothers her that she can't.
I guess I just got kind of long winded there for a minute and was just thinking with my fingers. Rattling.
Thanks for sharing, JimB. Enjoyed your input. Hang in there. My DH can still talk all right most of the time but has very little to tell me that I don't know before he gets it out!
My granddaughter wanted to take American Sign Language as her foreign language requirement in high school. Unfortunately they don't count it as a foreign language. It sure makes a lot more sense to me than the Japanese language class my grandson took two years ago. So much more useful and practical. Several years ago I had a clerical at work that was hearing impaired so they sent me to an ASL class. That was really great, even learned to "sign" a song. Haven't used it in many years so don't remember very much of it now. Wish I did.