Maintenance of key word signing in adults with intellectual disabilities: novel signed turns facilitated by partners’ consistent input and sign imitation

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between the use of key word signing (KWS) by support staff and by adults with intellectual disabilities (clients) who had experience with using KWS. Specifically, we explored whether these clients were more inclined to use KWS when support staff used KWS or imitated signs. One-to-one conversations between 24 clients and their support staff were filmed and transcribed. Partner turns were coded for communication mode (spoken or signed) and KWS response type (i.e., imitation, repetition, or new), while client turns were coded for communication mode and novelty (novel or non-novel). Using Cramer's V, strength of association was measured between each partner and subsequent client turn. Results indicated a moderate to strong association between partners' and clients' communication mode. In addition, partner turns containing newly introduced signs were associated with non-novel signed client turns, whereas sign imitations and repetitions by partners were more often followed by novel than non-novel signed client turns. These findings suggest that a balanced KWS input that includes new signed lexical items and sign imitations/repetitions may help to facilitate clients' KWS production and maintenance. This study was exploratory, and further research is needed to validate these results.

Use of key word signing by staff in special schools and in day centres for adults with intellectual disabilities

“…Nevertheless, staff seldom used KWS during these activities. Considering the positive association between the KWS usage of staff and adults with intellectual disabilities (Grove & McDougall, ; Rombouts et al, ), staff's limited use of signs may perhaps cause individuals with intellectual disabilities to also limit their use of signs during non‐communicative activities and mealtimes.…”

“…After direct support staff modelled and prompted KWS, individuals with intellectual disabilities increased their use of KWS (Schepis et al, ; Carter, ; Meuris et al, ). In cross‐sectional studies, a positive association was found between the use of manual signs by individuals with intellectual disabilities and staff (Grove & McDougall, ; Rombouts et al, ). Research also suggests that adults with intellectual disabilities may be more encouraged to use KWS when partners imitate manual signs (Rombouts et al, ).…”

“…In cross‐sectional studies, a positive association was found between the use of manual signs by individuals with intellectual disabilities and staff (Grove & McDougall, ; Rombouts et al, ). Research also suggests that adults with intellectual disabilities may be more encouraged to use KWS when partners imitate manual signs (Rombouts et al, ).…”

“…Third, we expected that staff used signs related to food/drink or traffic more often than manual signs from other semantic domains. Within this research question, we also explored two aspects of staff's KWS usage that can bolster the KWS usage in individuals with intellectual disabilities (Carter, ; Rombouts et al ., ): sign reinforcement and imitation.…”

Manual signing throughout the day: Influence from staff's sign use and type of activity

“…During semi‐structured one‐to‐one conversations, adults with ID were significantly more likely to respond with a signed rather than exclusively verbal exchange immediately after staff had used a sign (Rombouts et al . ). Because of the semi‐structured set‐up in that study, the results could not be generalised to a naturalistic setting where group activities are more common than one‐to‐one conversations.…”