Cognitive Skills and Sign Language Knowledge of Children with Severe and Profound Mental Retardation

Abstract

A longitudinal study was conducted to determine the ability of the Uzgiris and Hunt scales to predict the learning of manual signs over a four year period. 34 children diagnosed with severe and profound levels of mental retardation were administered the Uzgiris and Hunt scales and the Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language (REEL) scale. Four years later teachers were observed with their students and asked for the manual signs imitated, used independently, and used in combination and for any spoken words used. Regression analyses and ANOVAs supported the theoretical position that stage 5 is necessary for the learning of manual signs. However, even among those children at or above stage 5, relatively little learning occurred. The findings were discussed for their practical and theoretical significance.

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