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Baby Signing:

 

A study funded and supported by the National Institutes of Health in 2000 found that signing helps babies learn to talk. Children who had been instructed in signing had an advantage over non-signing children in language development. Children who are taught to sign demonstrate intellectual advantages. At 8 years, children were found to have IQs on average 12 points higher than those who had not been exposed to signing as a baby (Bevinetto Feld, 2004). Researchers speculate that the IQ advantage associated with signing might be the result of jump-starting a baby's intellectual development. It is also possible that the social and emotional benefits of signing, such as higher self-confidence, can have long-term effects on IQ (Ulene, 2006).


Source: McDonough, Meagan, 2008, "Babies and ASL." Retrieved April 03, 2008 <<http://teachingbabiesasl.blogspot.com/>>   (Adapted and used with permission.)

References:
 
Bevinetto Feld, Gina. "All About Baby Sign Language." American Baby June 2004. 2 Mar. 2008.

Ulene, Valerie. "Signs of Intelligence?" Los Angeles Times 07 Aug. 2006.
Retrieved 24 Mar. 2008. http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-themd7aug07,1,310586.column

 

 

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