Makaton... Any experiences to share?

[Cattymum]

The speech therapist recommended that I learn Makaton to help communicate with my 3 year old son who is communication delayed.
I had a look at the Makaton website and it seems interesting, does anyone have any experience of using it? Would everyone involved in his care have to use it? Can it help develop speech or would it become an alternative to speaking? Any advice welcome!
Thank you

Catty,lots of posts on this.
I am a speech and lang. therapist and advocate signing as a fabulous way to facilitate sppech and communication in general.
The more people that use it the better but the salt needs to give you specific guidance.
I also run signing classes.

Have a look at this website.There are various signing systems all pretty similar but Makaton is one of best known.

Look here

Baby signing brilliant for all kids.Started with children with communication problems but now very popular (and fashionable) with all.

Its the ideal if everyone does it (and all use the same system) but just get as many as possible to sign.I used signing with my dd2 who has S&L problems when she had minimal communication at age 2.It was only myself and dd1 that used it with her and it helped a lot.

ywo of my three sign i did BSL training some years back and makaton, my lot love to watch something special and picked up lots of signs from that.

Message withdrawn

the basic aim of makaton is to facilitate communication.

We use it with dd1 and dd2 and no doubt no3 when they arrive.

My eldest(4yo) has down syndrome and the makaton was a godsend to enable her to communicate. We started around the 2yo mark and to see how far she has come in such a short time with limited SALT is fab.

We started with a few signs - more, drink, eat, sleep - the important basics. The thing to remember is to say the word as well - don't just sign. So you start signing and saying and then your child will start signing - usually an approximation of the sign. Then after a while the sign gets clearer, then you can get the spoken word and sign and eventually the spoken word without the sign. That is how it has worked for dd1.

Although she has a lot of language now - signing is still very effective. I use it to introduce new ideas/concepts/ themes etc and very powerful when she is not listening to me iyswim - to be able to reinforce with a sign. As she is such a copy cat and very visual - signing was a godsend. It limits her frustation, allows her to communicate with us and others.

For some people depending on their impairment - they may never speak but are able to use signing to communicate.

I taught dd2 (NT 2yo) a few signs and she just picked up so much from watching us interact with dd1 and attending therapy with dd1.

I think it really helped my girls not go through that frustration of not being able to communicate when they wanted and of me not being understood. FWIW - dd1 understands far more than she can communicate at times but I firmly believe that MAKATON gave her a voice.

We used Makaton with Ds3 who was diagnosed with a severe language delay at 2.By the time he was 2.10 he was 'within the normal range' for speech.
Always used it with speech instead of.
Im a big fan of it.

Yes.
Must always be used with speech.
Stacks of research to show that it enables speech not hinders it as some people worry.

Lovely story Eidsvold about your whole family benefitting.I wish I could put you in my pocket and bring you out when I am trying to persuade families to use it.

Catty,look at the website www.singandsign.com
I rate this woman very highly.
Her dvds are excellent and a great reso4urce to 4get7 you going.

moondog - I am sure that is why dd2 seems to have a much greater command of language and communication than other 2yo we have come across. The difference when she could ask for more, or biscuit, drink etc is amazing - for both the girls actually. The first time dd1 signed and realised we understood what she wanted - her reaction was so fab .

We also did the Hanen - it takes two to talk program - if you get the chance to do that - brilliant.

Oh yes,I know all about Hanen too.
Brilliant.
Your posts are like TeeCees-incredibly uplifting and inspiring.

I'd say definitely go for it. I started signing with dd1 when she was about 6 months and although it took her about a year to start signing back it is now her main form of communication, although she is now starting to vocalise more. I have no doubt that it saved her and us lots of frustration because she could communicate with us from a relatively early age.

I've just started signing with dd2 who is 6 months. She doesn't have SN but I want her to be able to communicate with dd1.

The pocket books of signs you can get from MVDP are quite good but I've learnt a huge amount of signs from Something Special.

Cattymum I'd definately say go for it. My DD3 has downs and I've been using Makaton (along with speech of course) since she was a baby. She picked up loads herself and used them to label things. But by 3 and half she just stopped using them, and to cut a long story short she was also diagnosed as having ASD. She's now 6, has learnt other communication methods at her special school, (i.e. pecs) but we've been advised to still sign as well and she has started to use signs again!! So her needs are obviously complex, but I think signs help her to both understand and express herself. And give her a lot of pleasure, she LOVES it when we sign and sing nursery rhymes.

Thanks... Theres some pretty postive endorsements here... I know they use Makaton at the preschool ds attends and salt mentioned a local course.

Thanks for sharing your stories with me.

Heres hoping this is the key to communication!

Go on the course.It will really allow you to understand the whole concept,ask questions and make some new friends and allies.

I used BSL with my son because the resources are free and you can find loads of stuff on the internet. Makaton charge money for all their stuff, yet a lot of the rudimentary signs are similar. We weren't sure if he would be able to talk, but he has started now and is doing well. He still signs a bit, but only alongside speech. The program "Something Special" is great for kids and adults wanting to learn signing as the guy who does it is very clear. A lot of the signs are the same or similar to BSL so my son loves it.