tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827307736027843091.post5821455493801166323..comments2023-05-10T08:19:38.817-07:00Comments on Growing Fruit: Deafness meets AutismPrince Andrew and the Queen Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08876789726311010657noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827307736027843091.post-74222657344620311422009-04-13T02:00:00.000-07:002009-04-13T02:00:00.000-07:00Wow!!! This was really fascinating to me because I...Wow!!! This was really fascinating to me because I had never really thought about deafness&autism. <BR/><BR/>I'm deaf, with an implant, but ONLY got it at 19 years old, although I was born profoundly deaf and just turned 20.<BR/><BR/>My stepbrother, Orion, is 9 and autistic. <BR/><BR/>I have 7 siblings (yes! I know! =)) and ALL of them know varying degrees of sign and express great interest in it.... except Orion. <BR/><BR/>I suspect it's because usually an interest in learning sign is usually prompted by knowing a deaf person who uses it or having some "practical usage" for it. I know this makes sense, but it really comes down to motivation. <BR/><BR/>And Orion doesn't really have much attachment to me (thus no motivation), nor does he seem to comprehend I cannot understand him when he speaks....because of the "self-centredness" that autism usually brings. <BR/><BR/>But if you can find a way to make sign REALLY fascinating or practical, he'd probably pick up on it... glad to know he speaks though and is taking to the implant wonderfully.<BR/><BR/>I would think that being a deaf child with autism, that the auditory sensory "overload" would be WAY too much? I've had the implant for nearly a year now and I STILL get overloaded (but then again, don't we all, I guess?)<BR/><BR/>Glad I found your blog through ci-circle! Looking forward to reading more.*Tasha*https://www.blogger.com/profile/05724283252279081613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8827307736027843091.post-56750996898806303712009-03-27T04:53:00.000-07:002009-03-27T04:53:00.000-07:00Pamela enjoyed learning individual signs, especial...Pamela enjoyed learning individual signs, especially the signs for animals. But, like Andrew, she had trouble with nuances like facial expression and syntax for sentences. She did not reference the instructor at all so even her signing was language-impaired. I think she would do much better at learning sign language now that she references people.walkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05046468024103932112noreply@blogger.com