| At a glance: Manual signing |
Type of therapy
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Therapy-based
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The claim
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Improves communication skills; reduces sensory and emotional regulation problems
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Suitable for
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People with ASD
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Research rating
Find out more about this rating system in our FAQs. |
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Time
Estimate of the total time for family in hours per week and duration. |
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It will take some time for the child and significant others to learn manual signing. |
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Cost
Estimate of cost to family per session/item or week. |
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About this intervention
What is it?
Manual signing is a way of using hand signs to communicate. For people with speech or hearing problems, manual signing can be used to support speech skills, or as the main way of communicating.
Who is it for?
This intervention is suitable for anyone who has speech or hearing problems, including people with autism.
What is it used for?
Manual signing is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system for communicating. It’s claimed that AAC systems help children with autism improve their communication skills, including how they understand others and express themselves.
Where does it come from?
Manual signing was originally developed to help people who are deaf or have hearing impairments. It was introduced as a therapy for people with autism in the 1970s.
What is the idea behind it?
The idea is that manual signing is easier for people with autism to learn and use – especially those who have difficulties with speech and understanding body language.
What does it involve?
Manual signing involves learning to use your hands to communicate. Key Word Sign (formerly known as Makaton) is the main system used.
Key Word Sign is a system that uses hand signs to represent main or key words in a sentence, rather than being a full sign language. It was developed specifically for people who have difficulty producing speech.
This differs from other methods of signing (for example, AUSLAN), which uses signs with the same word order as spoken English. AUSLAN is the primary language for the deaf community.
When manual signing is used in combination with speech, it’s called ‘total communication’. This approach is typically used with people with autism.
Cost considerations
Parents might need to pay for sign language training.
Does it work?
Some research has shown positive effects from this therapy, but more high-quality studies are needed. Manual signing might be best for children with ASD if it’s used along with other therapies that have been shown to work.
Who practises this method?
Generally, parents receive training and then teach and practise this approach with their children. Some special schools teach and use manual signing.
A speech pathologist might be able to instruct parents on teaching their child manual signing. Not all speech pathologists will have training or experience, however.
Parent education, training, support and involvement
Parents will need training in manual signing. Key Word Sign Australia offers training programs throughout Australia. Information about learning AUSLAN can be found on the AUSLAN website.
Schools that use manual signing might also be able to train parents.
Where can I find a practitioner?
Contact the autism association in your state and ask them to recommend a service or practitioner. Some speech pathologists might also be able to instruct parents on teaching their child manual signing. You can find a speech pathologist through the Speech Pathologist Association.
