title: The effects of delayed physical prompts and reinforcement on infant sign language acquisition.
abstract: Researchers and clinicians have recommended that sign language be taught to typically developing children during their first 2 years of life; however, existing research does not provide adequate information regarding appropriate methods of sign training. We used delayed physical prompting and reinforcement to teach manual signs to 3 children between the ages of 6 and 13 months. Data were collected on the occurrence of prompted and independent signs as well as crying. Sign training was successful in producing independent signing in all 3 children in under 4 hr of training per child.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development, University of Kansas, Lawrence, 66045, USA. rthomps@ku.edu
authors.forename: Rachel H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Paige M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: McKerchar
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Dancho
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011930:Reaction Time; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012813:Sign Language; D014706:Verbal Learning