Enhancing Communication with Key Word Sign (KWS)
As audiologists, our goal is to provide comprehensive care to individuals who may be experiencing hearing impairment, whether temporary or not, and enhance communication. One approach is the introduction of Key Word Sign (KWS).
Key Word Sign, formerly known as Makaton, is a simplified form of manual signing and highly effective in assisting with communication difficulties. It can be used both with children and adults. It builds on natural gestures (eg pointing) facial expressions and body language, which are all part of communication. It can benefit those who have difficulties with speech delay, comprehension and/or attention.
KWS focuses on teaching a small set of core vocabulary words that are used in daily communication. In Australia, KWS uses the same signs as Auslan, the Australian Deaf community’s language. Auslan is a complete language that has its own grammar and word order which is different from English. KWS is not full sign language.
How to use KWS?
- Sign and speak at the same time.
- Speak in regular, complete sentences.
- Sign only the key words in your sentence eg: do you want a drink of milk?
- Use gestures, facial expressions and body language to add meaning to your sentence.
Benefits for Children with Speech Delay:
- Enhanced communications: KWS provides an alternative means of communication for children with speech delays, enabling them to express themselves more effectively.
- Reduced Frustration: By giving children a way to communicate their needs and desires, KWS can reduce frustration and challenging behaviours associated with speech delays.
- Improved Language Development: KWS can support language development by reinforcing spoken words with visual cues, helping children to understand and remember vocabulary.
- Empowerment: Learning KWS empowers children with speech delays to participate more fully in social interactions and everyday activities.
Some useful signs:
- More: claw hand on chest and pull out slightly.
- Eat/ Food: Bringing fingers to the mouth as if feeding oneself.
- Drink: Bringing the hand to the mouth in a drinking motion.
- Help: Place your dominant hand bent at third knuckles, palm down onto non-dominant palm. Move formation towards the person being helped or towards yourself if you are the one who needs help (use directionality).
- Please: Start with hand flat, fingertips touching chin, move hand forward while curling fingers into the palm.
- Thank you: Extending fingers and thumb of the dominant hand and touching the chin, then moving the hand forward slightly.
- Stop: Extending the hand with the palm facing outward and moving it in a forward motion.
- Toilet: dominate index finger tapped twice into the palm of non-dominate hand
- Finish: Tilt fist, with thumb raided and pointing upwards, from side to side.
- Yes: make a fist and tilting at wrist, move fist palm down, up and down.
Other helpful resources:
- Auslan Signbank – www.auslan.org.au
- Key Word Sign Australia – www.kwsa.org.au
- Baby sign and learn app
- Sunshine sign and sing- www.sunshinesignandsing.com.au
- Ms Rachel -Toddler learning – www.youtube.com/@msrachel
References:
Key Word Sign Australia. www.kwsa.org.au
Therapy Focus- www.therapyfocus.org.au The benefits of Key Word Sign by Natalie Elias
Sunshine sign and sing – Children’s key word signing resources & services www.sunshinesignandsing.com.au