Can Signing Help You Speak? Assessing the Effectiveness of Sign Language as An Augmentative and Alternative Means of Communication for Autistic Children

Abstract

This paper explores the effectiveness of sign language as a method of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for children with autism, focusing on the potential of sign language to aid language acquisition and improve social interaction. The modality of sign language, as well as its linguistic value, allows it to be used in AAC. presenting both signed and spoken language (simultaneous communication) further enhances the assistance of autonomous articulation for autistic children. However, the evidence mostly comes from case studies and the results are not uniform. The effectiveness of sign language compared to other AAC is controversial. Combining sign language with other AAC to further enhance vocalisations in autistic children may be a promising field.