Sign Facilitation in Word Recognition

Abstract

The purpose of this article was a dual one: first, to provide a comprehensive literature review, and second, to report one study to extend that literature. That study investigated whether signs from the Sign Language of the Netherlands would facilitate word recognition by deaf children. Participants were 6-to 10-year-old deaf children who attended a school for the deaf at which they received bilingual education. The mean hearing loss was 104 dB. Participants attended a training in which they were taught to match written words with pictures. Before and after training, they were tested in word recognition by means of a computer-based test. Results indicated a significant increase in accuracy of word recognition after training. If words were learned through speech, accompanied by the relevant sign, accuracy of word recognition increased to a greater extent than if words were learned solely through speech.