child pays more attention to sign than speech?

[dmmetler]

Has anyone else noticed that their (hearing) child follows directions better when a parent signs vs speaks? I've noticed with Alli that if I say something (like "come here"), she often looks at me sort of puzzled, while if I say and sign (COME), she'll do it. Is her ASL receptive vocabulary better than her auditory vocabulary now? (she does sign COME herself)? It's just interesting to watch. She'll do the same if I ask her to pick an object out of a set-if I just say the name, she usually doesn't manage it, while if I say and sign the name, she can usually do so successfully. And some of these are words she does say verbally, like cat and duck, but she did sign them earlier than she said them.

[shanci]

Yes, I have noticed the same thing with my 2 year old. Also, this past Sunday I noticed it with an entire group of children ages 3-11. I have been teaching them how to sign the words in a Christmas song and it was AMAZING how well they paid attention and how fast they learned the words & signs. There were a few restless children when we started, but they quickly settled down when we got signing & singing.
Shanci

[c01dunlap]

For Sophie (hearing, a little over 2 yrs. old), it depends on the environment/what she's doing. I've always been surprised that when she's watching a video like Dora the Explorer, she pretty much *completely* ignores verbal, but responds immediately to sign (even just using her peripheral vision).

In church, she's getting better at realizing that using sign doesn't get her 'in trouble' -- it's also easier for us (or her, for that matter) to get the point across, of course.

Lastly, there are a few signs she seems to 'trust/believe' more that the verbal equivalent (really, go figure :confused: )! One is "Later", as in if she asks for something she really wants (go outside, cookie, etc.), I can speak until I'm blue in the face, but the instant I promise "Later" with my hands, she's satisfied.

This is a very interesting thread... Until you asked, I hadn't really thought about that last one. Be interested to hear about more experiences!

[signsofearlylife]

In my classes and at home, I definitely notice that kids pay more attention when I sign. It's like they are instantly drawn to it. As opposed to speech where they have already learned to selectively tune out.

[flippet]

In my classes and at home, I definitely notice that kids pay more attention when I sign. It's like they are instantly drawn to it. As opposed to speech where they have already learned to selectively tune out.


I've noticed that with my 11-week-old...I sign to her, and she instantly gets serious, and starts staring at me. This is new to me, since I don't remember my older son paying quite so much attention, even at older ages (didn't really sign more than occasionally with him until 10 months, when we got ST!). I've kind of slacked off signing with my son, since he's 2 1/2 and pretty verbal, and stubborn when it comes to signing (he can, he just usually won't when asked, but will spontaneously sign on occasion...little twerp. :rolleyes: ). But now it seems that I'm going to have to really pick up the pace for my daughter....she might really take to signing! :)

[fia's mom]

I have noticed that not only is my child who is HOH and aided in her left ear more in tune to what my hands are saying, but so are the rest of my kids.

My oldest, Shiori, is a figure skater. Her coach now incorporates sign while instructing her as her lessons seem to go better. Part of that, I am guessing, is due to the fact that she can watch for visual clues versus having to listen for her coach over the other coaches.

Emily, my second oldest, tunes in because she is trying to keep up with the amount of sign her other sisters know. Being my stepdaughter, she is only with us every other weekend, so when she is here, she may be trying to play catch up. She borrows the videos, but I don't think has the reinforcement of someone signing to her to make it stick in her head.

Sabrina, almost 3, is my little sponge. She has picked up signs faster than any of the others and is usually asking for a new sign on a daily basis. We only started signing in February and it's now June. I think she knows almost every single sign from all 13 videos, and then the other signs that she has asked for as well. Like I said, she's my sponge!

Sophia, my youngest @ almost 14 months, like I said is HOH. She is so in tune to a person's hands. She cares more/pays attention more to the hands than the mouth. I don't think my father really understood that until we visited one day. My father naturally "gestures" with his hands while speaking. At the dinner table he noticed that Sophia just stared at him while he was doing this. Boy was he surprised!

All in all, I really think it's that "visual queue" sometimes that really helps a child to make the connection in their brain. To use a term from a book about Attention Deficit Disorder, it's as if the children go into a state of "hyper-concentration" while being signed to.

Ok, sorry this post was so long, but just wanted to share what I have noticed with all of my children vs just a generalization. :D

[Bill]

Gracy (Bill). you very smart. I always look for your
answers.

If a hearing person with blank stare say "I am sick"
so?

Deaf person sign sick, with a great non manual gesture
of tongue hanging out, eyes squinting(?), mouth open
to floor. who is more interesting to hear.

your buddy
gracy

[Rachel]

Lucy has discovered that I pay very close attention to her when she signs to me! She is 6 years old and her signing has really picked up lately. I give her my undivided attention when she signs to me... I guess it goes both ways!

[fia's mom]

Lucy has discovered that I pay very close attention to her when she signs to me! She is 6 years old and her signing has really picked up lately. I give her my undivided attention when she signs to me... I guess it goes both ways!

Yes, indeed it does go both ways. My 2 older kids have realized now after watching their younger sisters that "all eyes are on them" when they sign to me while speaking or not.

That's awesome that Lucy's signing has really picked up. YAY, Lucy!!

[alices_dad]

Think about it this way: if you're signing, you have to look to get any of it at all. And if you're looking it's clear that you're giving your attention.

With speech, you might pick up something or not, but while you might be listening, it's not clear that you're hearing.