Chatterbox classes

[santapaws]

My DS has a speech delay and we went to our first chatterbox class yesterday, where i imagined they would engage them in play etc but concentrate on speaking, showing them pictures - ball, car, teddy etc, but instead they were trying to get him to sign things.

My first reaction was "wtf? I dont want him learning sign" but is that normal to teach them sign instead of sounds?

Im not in any way disputing that signing works for some people but i guess im just desperate to hear some words and it kind of felt like a step back.

What do you think?

Thanks

Not at all.Research shows that signing can aid speech.Furthermore, you can't leave a child high and dry with no communication system so signing comes in as (we hope) a temporary measure, leading to speech.

I use and endorse it a great deal as a salt.

Was this not excplained to you?

No moondog, not explained at all. You've explained more to me here than they did.

They were saying the words and signing them aswell, for example, thank you and apple and water etc but they were making him do the sign for apple before he could have any, even though i thought he was trying to say "apple", she still made him sign it first.

Im probably being oversensitive to it, just mega frustrated i guess.

Thanks
x

Dd2's first word came after learning a few signs, she has ASD and finds signing hard but will sign please and now says 'please' whilst signing. I was worried that by using signing she would not speak but the signing has helped, we have also had a few words from using PECS.

I'm not surprised yoi are confused and frustrated! Really astonished noonoe has bothered explaining this stuff to you.
Have a look at this section of the makaton website for parents.

I hope it will make it all a bit clearer.

PS If you have the chance to give feedback, bring this up!