WHAT DOES RESEARCH TELLS US ABOUT BABY SIGN LANGUAGE?

The deaf community has been using Sign Language to communicate for many years, but it is only since the 1980's that we have known of the remarkable benefits of exposing hearing babies to non-verbal gestures.

The most groundbreaking research into Baby Sign Language is accredited to Child Development experts and authors of Baby Signs, Linda Acredolo, PhD and Susan Goodwyn PhD of California. Acredolo and Goodwyn have conducted more than two decades of studies into Baby Sign Language.

One of their most significant findings came through a long-term government funded study involving 140 families with 11-month-old babies who were randomly placed into either signing or non-signing control groups. The groups were equivalent at the beginning in respect to their sex and birth order, family education/income level, and tendency to vocalise or verbalise words.

Acredolo and Goodwyn's research found that signing babies outperformed the non-signers and they concluded that Baby Sign Language delivered the following benefits:

• Helps babies talk sooner.
  
• Helps improve intellectual development, resulting in higher IQs.
  
• Reduces tantrums, tears and frustration.
  
• Develops larger vocabularies & understand more words.
  
• Increases communication and learning at a very early age.
  
• Encourages greater interest in books and pretend play at an early age.
  
• Enriches bond with parents, siblings and caregivers.
  
• Increases self-esteem and self-confidence
  
• Reveals how smart babies really are and gives you a window into their mind.
  
  

Click here to read more of the benefits of baby Sign language.