Sign Language for a Nonverbal Child: A Facilitator or Inhibitor of Vocal Speech?

A 4 1/2 year old autistic-like child participated in a sign language training program using nine words, each with a corresponding toy and play activity. For each word the teacher held up the appropriate toy and said, or under the sign condition said and signed, the corresponding word. The S learned to sign, but the introduction of sign training had little of any effect on speech. Methodological considerations dictated that the only conclusion is that discriminative control was established for signing during sign training sessions and for speech during speech training sessions. The S learned skills (following instructions, imitating) during sign training which are often considered prerequisites to speech. (CL)