by Ann Marie Dwyer

Created on: March 26, 2008   Last Updated: November 23, 2008

The National Institutes of Health in Washington, DC has conducted long term research at University of California on the effects of teaching infants and babies sign language. Research indicates signing actually speeds the learning of verbal speech and shows why it does.

Doctors Acreddo and Goodwyn, who conducted the research, found distinct advantages in groups of babies eleven to thirty-six months. Their study specifically examined the program "Baby Signs"(TM).

~~Expedited speech development~~

Babies who use sign language for attention get a parental response of many appropriate words that correlate to the signs. All studies to date prove that the more language a baby hears, the faster expressive language develops.

~~Reduced frustration and tantrums~~

By nine months, babies know both what they need and want. They get frustrated because they cannot use words parents understand. Without the advanced motor skills necessary to form words, they point, grunt and/or cry.

Parents are frustrated because they do not understand what babies want. Babies are frustrated because they cannot get parents to understand. Signing reduces these frustrations.

With signs like "thirsty", "hungry", "eat" and "cold" (and many other simple signs) babies can quietly, but effectively, let their needs and desires be known without tantrums or tears.

~~Increased confidence and better self-esteem~~

Looking at the core of self-esteem and confidence reveals how sign language is beneficial to babies. Self-esteem is the sense that one is perceived as praiseworthy and competent by one's self. Confidence is the same sense provided by those one loves.

Since signing provides effective communication to the caregiver, the caregiver's response is positive. Babies develop increased confidence and pride in their own abilities, which fosters better self-esteem.

Sign language allows babies to effectively communicate at a very young age and jump starts the neural substrate of verbal language. Speaking verbally requires planning, thinking and decision-making. These activities stimulate a baby's brain with lasting beneficial effects, including increased simple and complex problem-solving skills.

Parents use spoken language in concert with sign language. Just as parents associate the sound of the alarm clock with waking up, babies associate the sounds of parents' words with the sign for the word. The act of teaching the sign to the baby actually exposes the child to language at an earlier age. Both of these actions support the theory of babies learning sign language hastens verbal language.

The benefits of infant sign language last into school years, expedite intellectual development and offer priceless bonding between parents and babies.

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