The sooner we start working, the more we can help children communicate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s daunting for any parent to learn that they have a child who is disabled. I\u2019m just so grateful that, at that moment, I was there to give them support and reassurance. And meeting Luca so early had another huge advantage: I\u2019ve learnt in my 26 years at Sense that the sooner we start working with a child, the more we can help them develop and learn to communicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For most children, communication evolves naturally as they watch and listen to the people around them and associate what they see and hear with ideas, actions and objects. But for children like Luca, communication has to be taught and learnt, and that takes time, patience and expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the first techniques I used is called hand-under-hand communication<\/a>, where I rest Luca\u2019s hand on mine, and we make signs together. This approach gives children like Luca control – they can take their hand away at any time \u2013 and the freedom to learn at their own pace. It was difficult at first because Luca had a lot of injections in his hands when he was in hospital so didn\u2019t like to be touched, but he learned to trust me over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I would also sign to Luca, using British Sign Language<\/a> or Makaton<\/a> (a simpler form of sign language), making sure I was close to him as his vision is very limited. Over time, Luca began to associate signs, objects and sounds with ideas, things and actions. He was communicating!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luca\u2019s six now and it\u2019s been a hard road for the whole family. He was in hospital for the first eight months of his life and each day bought a new challenge. But, we\u2019ve been there every step of the way to help Luca to connect with the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning signs has been crucial. It\u2019s helped Luca and his family to communicate at the level Faye and Ben had thought might not be possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing some sign language helps Luca to get more out of the thing he loves most in the world \u2013 music. His bone-anchored hearing aid helps him pick up the sounds while we all sign the lyrics together. Luca\u2019s not just enjoying music, he\u2019s making it too \u2013 he loves nothing more than to sign and sing along to his favourite songs at our Sensory Explorers group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of Luca\u2019s favourites is Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, which he signs in Makaton. It\u2019s wonderful to see the huge smile on his face as he puts his heart and soul into performing the song \u2013 and to know he\u2019s not going to be isolated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Luca is such an intelligent, happy little boy and I\u2019m so proud of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want to learn more about things like sign language and hand-under-hand communication? We’ve got lots more information. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n ![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.sense.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/luca-and-anne-1024x683.jpg\")
First, I used hand-under-hand communication, then I used sign language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We’ve helped Luca connect with the world<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Find out about the different ways a child like Luca can communicate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n