Purpose: Key word signing (KWS) entails using manual signs to support the natural speech of individuals with normal hearing and who have communication difficulties. While manual signs from the local sign language may be used for this purpose, some KWS systems have opted for a distinct KWS lexicon. Distinct KWS lexicon typically aims for higher…

An examination of 20 manuals designed to teach sign communication to persons with severe communication impairment revealed over 850 words appearing in two or more manuals. These words are listed in alphabetical order with their frequency of occurrence. (Author)

A survey of 86 persons using non-speech communication systems with retarded clients was conducted to determine which non-speech communication methods they used with which kinds of communication impaired populations. (SBH)

Suggestions of writers such as A. Holland and M. Lahey and L. Bloom are examined regarding their appropriateness for visual-manual communication and are applied to approximately 50 signs most frequently taught to retarded and autistic persons to aid in lexicon planning. Additional signs are proposed for extending this basic list. (Author/DLS)

A multimodal intervention program designed for a nine-year-old with severe communication problems (secondary to cerebral palsy, receptive dysphasia, and auditory agnosia) combined manual signs and graphic symbols to help her communicate. The intensive, highly structured program had significant positive results. (Author/CB)

The article describes an assessment and instructional strategy for teaching severely handicapped individuals manual communication skills. (DLS)

Presents information on deafness and deaf people that is helpful to librarians communicating with deaf patrons. Communication modes and preferences are discussed, including speaking and facial expression, speech reading, lipreading, and sign language; and methods of optimizing conditions for good communication are described. (11 references) (LRW)

Examined is the combination of methods (aural, manual, oral) used within the philosophy of total communication for the deaf. The use of Cued Speech, a tool whose purpose is to make spoken language visually clear at the levels of phonems, syllables, suprasegmentals, words, and phrases, is advocated for communication with the deaf. (BD)

An investigation of the confusion resulting from reliance on visual perceptual teachers in the identification of dactylemes (handshapes) in the American Manual Alphabet (MA) is reported. A hierarchy of errors varying with subjects' degree of expertness in the MA is established. This can help manual communication teachers develop techniques for…

Examined the development of communicative competence in deaf children and its interactions with use of communicative gestures and/or words. Data indicated (1) the use of communicative gestures increased with age while speech remained constant; and (2) the number of gestures used correlated with communicative accuracy. Difficulty level influenced…

Considered are ways in which developmental theories, methodologies, and research findings may be used to clarify the concept of experiential deficiencies of deaf children. Examined are the effects on deaf children of deprivations in physical experiences (such as the reduction of information about objects provided by auditory feedback) and in…

The monograph comprises the proceedings of a 1989 international conference on services to the deaf blind, including conference papers as well as reports from eight nations. Introductory material includes the text of the "Declaration of the Basic Needs of Deaf-Blind Persons" adopted at the conference, the conference program, and a list of…

The manual attempts to bring changes into the way in which manual communication is currently used by deaf adults or in some schools for the deaf, in order to bring manual communication into a closer parallel to the English language so that signs can be used to teach English to the language handicapped deaf person and particularly to adult…

Twenty-one nonverbal autistic children, 4- to 9-years-old, with language ages of 4- to 24-months, participated in the communication learning program from 1 to 3 years. Simultaneous verbal and manual signs were chosen as the communications mode. The children initially displayed infrequent, unrecognizable vocalizations (Screeches, or vocal…

This survey of seven hearing families with deaf children examined parent understanding of Signed English and American Sign Language, reasons for choosing Signed English, experiences with professionals and with other deaf adults, challenges of developing fluency in Signed English, and parental evaluation of the results of their use of Signed…