Self taught signs at 21 months - will it delay talking

[boo64]

My ds is 21 months. We didn't teach him signing but he has made up quite a lot of signs himself for things and once he started I made a couple up too for him.

He only has maybe 20 words he really uses and regularly uses maybe only 10. He understands everything so not particularly worried and he has been stringing words together (up to 3 e.g. daddy go there) for a few months.

BUT my question is will signing delay him talking as he won't have the impetus to talk more.

If we ask him to say the word for something familiar, sometimes he says words and sometimes he uses signs.

It sounds to me like your son has found a great way to communicate, using the tools at his disposal. I can't actually answer your question, except to say that it would be a shame for you to worry unnecessarily rather than enjoy him!

My older boy only ever said the first syllable of every word for ages and I was the only one who could understand him. My mum was convinced it meant he had hearing problems, but he turned out absolutely fine.

In a word, no. Signing encourages speech. The only research I'm aware of was with children with DS- those who signed (using Makaton) had a bigger spoken vocabulary at age 5 than those who hadn't used sign. May not be such a big effect in typically developing children but it won't delay talking that's for sure.

that's reassuring.

Anyone out there started 'formal' signing like Makaton quite late i.e. at heading for two?

Only for a child with SN. DS3 (not SN- 2 last January) copies us teaching ds1 (age 8) - we've just attempted introducing them again to ds1. As I sign to ds1, ds3 stands next to me signing (whilst ds1 ignores me PMSL).

Actually thinking about it, the odd sign that ds1 does have (jump is his favourite) seems to encourage speech. He signs jump and say "ump" (kind of). Before introducing the sign he would just stand on his playhouse roof and say "uh uh uh" when he wanted to jump down.

Same as PECS (little cards) with those they seem to cue an attempt at words. "ay yan ee ee" (I want biscuit) with the PECS card- nothing verbal, just hand shoving, without.

As he progresses the signs will drop out and the words will stay although if he signs and doesnt attempt the word a good thing to do is to reiterate the word he is aiming for.
I started out taking children to sing and sign now I am trained in makaton using it every day in mainstream school.It might be useful to take him to a sing and sign class if there is one locally you say he makes his own signs up that is ok if there is just you but in a different setting he may struggle if his signs and their signs are not the same ones.

Yes good idea - I think he'd enjoy a signing class