How
Parents and Carers can Assist Early Intervention.
by Sandy Joint.
State Education Adviser for Deafblindness, Education Queensland.
This article is the first of a practical series to promote the early development of infants who are deafblind using a methodology known as Body Signing. Body Signs are a form of tactile signs that can be drawn or made directly onto the body of a child who is deafblind with minimal interference to their hands or the activity they are involved in. The theories, methodology, strategies and curriculum behind body signing are based on activities that promote activities that follow a natural developmental sequence.
Further information and booklets related to this methodology and pictures of associated tactile signs can be obtained from the author. Learning to interact
Every child must know they are loved and wanted. Secure positive relationships help develop bonds that promote interaction, and form the basis for early communication exchanges.
These bonds first develop through close contact, nurturing and tactile communication such as kisses, cuddles, visual and auditory signals.
With babies the first noticeable form of interaction takes place when they exchange eye contact and smiles with their primary carer i.e., as a result of the parents/carer smiling at the baby, the baby learns to smile, this smile makes both feel good, a dialogue of reciprocal smiles develops and the feeling of communication develops.
Children who are deafblind miss out on these vital forms of early interaction.
From this early stage there is a need to develop a substitute system
so the same signalling process can be developed. This can be achieved by:
As their hands are very small and their memory still developing just do a name sign or finger-spell onto their hand the first two letters on their name. For children who still have a reflex grasp or are at the developmental stage where they do not like their hands being open, bring you arm over to your child so they can make contact with some item you always wear e.g. bracelet or watch. When they begin to reach out to touch things let your child feel distinctive features of familiar people such as hair, jewellery, moustaches, noses, glasses.
To maximise interaction nurse and play with your child as many times a day as possible. Playing with your child will help them feel secure because they can feel your body and movements. Play for your child will be a more effective learning tool then isolated work times. Play games such as:
By interacting with your child they will:
Children who are deafblind need to know you are "listening to them",
that you will respond when they communicate. Their responses however
may be different or even appear non-existent, negative, or very subtle
and idiosyncratic in a dual sensory loss child. These are some of the first
forms of communication dual sensory children may use to communicate:
Learning to respond will be harder for your child. Do not become discouraged by their lack of response. Your child will respond when they become developmentally "ready".
Respond with simple sentences, which emphasise and repeat words. By repeating words your child will start to associate the activity or experience with the tactile sign they can feel and the parts of words they can hear. This is important because your child has to build up an understanding of what you are saying first before they can learn to communicate.
Sometimes you might find your child clapping their hands together, fiddling with their fingers or pointing/touching part of their hand or body repeatedly. This is a kind of tactile babble.
It is very important to respond to this. Try to use tactile signs that
don't interfere with their hand movement in a stop and start game to encourage
the responses to continue.
HOW TO MAKE CONTACT OR SAY GOODBYE
All children regardless of whether they are able or disabled need to
hear their name combined with positive comments to know they are wanted
and cared for. Positive comments like "I love you", "who's a clever
boy/girl" or "(child's name) beautiful" are some of the initial forms of
interaction that occur between a child and the people who first interact
with them. Children
who are deafblind need to "hear" these same sentences. Whenever you
wish to make contact:
When your child is about six months old coactively encourage them to wave goodbye when you say good bye to friends and family. Use the words "bye bye" as this is simpler for them to hear then goodbye. This will help your child learn how to imitate actions.
Encourage verbal babble by saying sounds like:
HOW TO FOSTER POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR
Negative behaviours are easily learnt by children who are deafblind. This is largely because they have no way of "seeing or hearing" if you are pleased or annoyed or modelling appropriate behaviour. Children who are deafblind need to learn just like any other child how to recognise the boundaries of socially accepted behaviour from an early age and this can only be learnt if they are told what is good and what is naughty, combined with letting them know if you are happy or displeased with them.
If they do something good please praise them by saying and signing " boy/girl" or "yes, good" (combine the tactile signs with a positive smile, and natural gestures that reinforce approval such as gentle squeeze of hand, a little massage) This will help reinforcing if they have done the right thing.
If they do something that is unacceptable, dangerous or that could lead to negative behaviour or mannerism tell them "no no" or "no naughty", then leave them alone for a few minutes before interacting again. Mannerisms are behaviours such as:
The next edition of Beacon will focus on strategies to enhance early concept development and language during feeding time. (Sandy Joint's fax number is 07 3393 0994)
This article was published in The newsletter of the Australian DeafBlind
Council. Newsletter Number 13, April 1999.
I would like to thank Bob Segrave the editer of the Beacon Newsletter
of the Australian DeafBlind Council for being so kind to give me permission
to add this information to my site.
Thanks Mr Bob Segrave.