What is Key Word Sign?

Key Word Sign is an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system that supports spoken language.

In Key Word Sign, you use hand signs to represent the key words in a sentence at the same time as you speak words. For example, you might say to your child, ‘Do you want more biscuits?’ You would use the signs for ‘want’ and ‘biscuits’ to help your child understand the question.

Key Word Sign can also be used as a way for children to communicate if they have limited spoken communication or their spoken language is unclear.

Who is Key Word Sign for?

Key Word Sign is suitable for anyone who has communication and language difficulties, including autistic people.

What is Key Word Sign used for?

Key Word Sign is used to support the communication and language development of children and adults with language delay, speech disorders or communication disorders.

AAC systems like Key Word Sign can help autistic children with communication difficulties improve their communication skills, including how they understand others and express themselves.

Where does Key Word Sign come from?

In Australia, Key Word Sign was previously known as Makaton. Makaton was developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s.

Around 2010 Australian therapists adapted Makaton for Australian use by including signs from Auslan, which is the language of the Deaf community in Australia. At this time, Makaton in Australia was renamed Key Word Sign.

The principles of Key Word Sign are used around the world under different names, including Makaton, Sign Supported Speech, Signalong and Lámh.

What is the idea behind Key Word Sign?

Key Word Sign was developed for people who have difficulty understanding or producing speech. The idea is that using hand signs at the same time as spoken words can help people with communication delays learn communication and language skills. This includes autistic children.

What does Key Word Sign involve?

Key Word Sign uses hand signs to represent the main or key words in a sentence. You use the hand signs at the same time as you speak.

You can use Key Word Sign along with other AAC tools like photos or pictures. This is called ‘total communication’ or ‘multi-modal communication’ and is the approach typically used with autistic people.

Key Word Sign uses signs from Auslan, but it isn’t a full sign language like Auslan. Key Word Sign uses the same word order as spoken English but adds signs, whereas Auslan uses a different word order from spoken English.

Does Key Word Sign help autistic children?

Some research shows that Key Word Sign can have positive outcomes for autistic children. For example, research shows that learning Key Word Sign can help autistic children improve their communication skills and might help them use more spoken language.

More high-quality studies are needed to understand how Key Word Sign affects children’s development, but current evidence shows it’s safe and can be helpful.

There’s no evidence that teaching a child to sign stops them from learning to use spoken language.

Where can you get Key Word Sign?

Generally, you get training in Key Word Sign from a professional like a speech pathologist. Some specialist schools teach and use Key Word Sign. You can also learn signs from workshops or from Australian websites or other resources.

When you’ve learned Key Word Sign, you then help your child learn it by using it regularly and practising it together.

Where can you find a Key Word Sign professional?

Some speech pathologists can train parents to help their children use Key Word Sign.

Go to:

• Speech Pathology Australia – Find a speech pathologist
• Key Word Sign Australia to find out about online and in-person training courses.

If you’re interested in Key Word Sign, you could start by talking about it with your GP or one of the other professionals working with your child. You could also talk about Key Word Sign with your NDIA planner, early childhood partner or local area coordinator, if you have one.

How are parents involved in Key Word Sign?

If you want your child to use Key Word Sign, you need to learn and use it too. This way, you can model it for your child and understand your child if they start to use it themselves.

It will take time for you and your child to learn Key Word Sign, but it’s easy to get started with 2-3 signs of frequently used words like ‘more’, ‘finish’ and ‘go’.

How much does Key Word Sign training cost?

You might need to pay for Key Word Sign training. Other significant people in your child’s life, like siblings and grandparents, might need training too.

You might be able to include the cost of getting Key Word Sign training in your child’s NDIS plan. You can contact the NDIS to find out.

Therapies and supports for autistic children range from behavioural therapies and developmental approaches to medicines and alternative therapies. When you understand the main types of therapies and supports for autistic children, it’ll be easier to work out the approach that will best suit your child.