preview

Asl Vs American Sign Language

Decent Essays

Speech-Language Pathologists have a range of career fields they may enter after graduating with their Masters degree. No matter the field they decided to specialize in, there is an advantage to have knowledge and experience with ASL (American Sign Language). ASL may be used for increasing job outlook, improving communication with people who use ASL, as a therapy tool, and to facilitate oral language (Finch, 2016). Furthermore, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, people who have a fluency in ASL have the potential to be “more attractive” to employers because being linguistically diverse can increase your value. More opportunities may open because this person has the ability to work with deaf and hard-of-hearing clientele …show more content…

William Vicars, ASL is an “augmentative and alternative communication tool” which gives an alternative method of communication instead of speech. Individuals who have difficulties with, or cannot, communicate orally because of either a speech or language disorder, gain a way to communicate efficiently. Using ASL may either be a temporary or permanent solution to a problem (Vicars, 2016). As an example, Dr.Vicars uses a child with apraxia. This child would have the “ability to make the sounds of speech but have difficulty doing so.” Learning to sign first may be helpful because it gives this child a way to communicate that can be used in oral therapies later on. Using ASL can be used to facilitate oral language. (Vicars, …show more content…

A person who does not have a fluency of the language tends to slow down their rate of speech when signing at the same time. This allows the child to follow along easier, have a better chance of “imitating” the way their parent or guardian speaks, and gives them additional time to allow for “motoric transitions between words”. Utilizing signs during therapy also serves as visual cues which will help the individuals. When signs are consistently paired with a verbal sound or word, it can become a cue that will trigger the child and help them produce the correct sound or word. Though using signs as cues might lessen overtime, if the individual is struggling at any point with a certain sound or word, using a cue will again help them (Gretz, 2013). In conclusion, there are multiple advantages for a speech-language pathologist to learn ASL. The goals of speech-language pathologists include helping treat speech, language, and communication disorders, and by utilizing ASL in therapy, there are benefits for the individuals requiring the help and it can facilitate oral language. The speech-language pathologist will also be more attractive to employers and have the ability to communicate with people who use ASL, increasing the range of individuals they may help. ASL may very well be an important language for

Get Access