FAQ's

Most frequently asked questions with our answers. Feel free to email us with your questions!

Will signing with my baby delay her speech development? Research clearly indicates that babies who sign tend to have a stronger command of spoken language and also begin speaking at an earlier age than babies who don’t sign. If your baby is deaf or hard of hearing, early exposure to sign language is key to avoiding language deprivation. Deaf children with a strong command of language will more easily develop fluent reading and writing in their home language. If your child (deaf or hearing) signs, s/he is considered to be “verbal.” Signs are included in word counts!

Why are Baby Fingers classes based in American Sign Language (ASL)? American Sign Language is the language of the Deaf, a true, full language with a culture of its own, its own grammar and syntax. The signs are not made up. ASL is a standardized language used throughout the United States and much of Canada. The advantage of using a standardized sign language as a foundation is that most people who share knowledge of that language will be able to identify and respond to the signs that your baby knows. 

Are classes only for Deaf children? No, Baby Fingers programs are designed for hearing and Deaf children and parents, as well as children with a variety of disabilities. Students of all ages participate in our various programs.

ASL adds a 3rd language! It has been found to bridge the gap between two spoken languages and decrease frustration or confusion. See quotes below from families in our program. Below are quotes from  two of the many bilingual families who have participated in our program:

“Signing not only gave us our first means of effective communication, but was also definitely a nice way to confirm that [our son is] comprehending both English and Japanese — the two languages he is most exposed to. In fact, [he] has recently started responding with sign when spoken to in Cantonese also…thus confirming he comprehends all three languages just fine.”

“My 2 yr old speaks to me in Portuguese and to his dad in English, sometimes using signs too as we are both hard of hearing. He always uses ASL with my Deaf friends.”