Effects of Sign Language on Letter-Sound Recognition of a Non-Hearing Impaired, Developmentally Delayed Student

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sign language on letter-sound recognition of a non-hearing impaired, developmentally delayed student. A single subject was probed on letter-sound recognition skills and then three letters were selected that the subject did not know. The subject was taught sign language (i.e., fingerspelling for each of the three letters and a sign for a cue word for each letter) to enhance letter recognition skills . Using a multiple probe across behaviors design, it was found that after three weeks sign language improved the subject\u27s performance at letter recognition and naming of all three letters. It was concluded that the sign language was effective in promoting letter recognition skills