Aphasia
Aphasia is a common speech disorder. It is a condition in which stroke or brain injury makes a person unable to speak. Sign language can be a communication aid for people with aphasia. Some resources:
Sign Language and Aphasia from the National Aphasia Association Communicating with someone with aphasia from the U. S. National Library of Medicine
Autism
Sign language is frequently used as a communication tool with children with autism. One resource discussing sign language and autism research is “Acquisition of Picture Exchange-Based vs. Signed Mands and Implications to Teach Functional Communication Skills to Children with Autism” in the Journal of Special Education Apprenticeship from December 2016.
Cerebral Palsy
Some hearing children with cerebral palsy may be unable to speak because the cerebral palsy means they cannot control the parts of the body needed in producing speech. Sign language gives them an alternative means of communication.
Down Syndrome
The experiences of parents and children with Down syndrome in using sign language varies. Some parents of children with Down syndrome find that using sign language reduces the incentive for children to speak, as signing is easier for them. Others have found that using sign language encourages the development of speech in their children with Down syndrome and that the children drop the signs as they learn to speak. Some resources for using sign language with children who have Downs include:
Speech and Language Therapy from the National Down Syndrome Society Sign Language Instructional Video from the Down Syndrome Center at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
