THE DIFFERENCE SMALL GESTURES CAN MAKE

Communication is more than spoken words. Throughout their development, some babies may reward us with nonverbal signals, expressed throughout facial expressions, head position, posture, eye contact, and vocalizations. In turn, we reciprocate with our facial expressions, eye contact, touch, and in the way we modulate our voice.

In short, we convey volumes without words. Perhaps as much as 93 percent of our communication is through nonverbal channels, according to the famous Professor Emeritus, Dr. Albert Mehrabian’s ground breaking research, often replicated throughout the years. We are constantly making interpersonal connections and sending signals through non-verbal communication. Nonverbal communication consists of both non-speech elements of voice (what speech therapists call paralanguage or para linguistics), and body movement, or body language, including facial expressions, posture, and use of physical space, to name but a few. Body language encompasses a full range of nonverbal cues and signals, some with shared social meaning and others idiosyncratic or specific to communicator. Body language also includes gestures; that is, intentional movements of the hand or head that express meaning in a social context.

Rather than evaluating a child’s gestures in isolation; psychologists consider the quality, quantity, and appearance of a child’s gestures in the context of their overall behavior.

While certain non-verbal behavior, such as smiles, have universal meanings, others, especially hand gestures, translate differently from one culture to the next. For example, in certain cultures it is not considered polite to sustain eye contact with unfamiliar people. Other gestures symbolize ideas embedded in the context of the interpersonal exchange. For example, crossing your fingers might mean good luck or hoping something will happen. An interpretation based on an old custom; however, dictates that we cross our fingers before telling a fib. Thus gestures are culture-bound symbols subject to various interpretations depending on how and where they are used.

Psychologists distinguish gestures from other forms of nonverbal communication because they are performed with forethought. Basic gestures, such as pointing, typically serve as a baby’s first form of social communication, therefore, limited gestures may be an early indicator of the social challenges associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In evaluating for ASD, psychologists define gestures as a deliberate action of the hands or body meant to communicate a message. These might include descriptive gestures intended to show size, informational gestures to relay numbers, or instrumental gestures, such as motioning someone to approach.

Rather than evaluating a child’s gestures in isolation; psychologists consider the quality, quantity, and appearance of a child’s gestures in the context of their overall behavior. Psychologists also take note of the coordination between gestures and other forms of communication as they work together in an exponential manner to convey meaning. Children on the spectrum may pair speech with gestures, such as pointing while vocalizing ‘yes.’ However, they are less likely to pair gestures with eye contact, that is, looking directly into another’s eyes. Limited eye contact is frequently identified as an early sign of ASD. When identifying early signs associated with ASD, it can be important to consider not only the presence or absence of eye contact, but how the child directs and coordinates eye contact with other channels of communication. Eye contact paired with gestures is notably crucial to interpersonal communication. Children who make eye contact with a caregiver while pointing at an object of interest are more likely to capture their caretaker’s attention and share pleasure in the object of interest. Therefore, when psychologists gather information about a child’s nonverbal communication, they pay close attention to whether the eye contact is accompanied by gestures.

THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF BENEFITS TO TEACHING CHILDREN TO RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO GESTURES:

BENEFIT ONE

One primary reason is that children are more likely to learn language when they have mastered gestures. This stands to reason given the critical role that gestures, including hand gestures, head nodding, and shrugging shoulders, play in allowing children to indicate their wants and needs to others. For example, learning to point to objects some distance away gives parents information about a child’s interests and needs, and is, not surprisingly, associated with early language development.

Another reason gestures are key to communication for children on the spectrum is because they tend to process information more effectively through visual channels. Thus pairing gestures with words makes it more likely that children on the spectrum, just like most of us, are more likely to remember what they hear AND see. Which brings to mind the first part of the Chinese proverb: “Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember….” This brings us to a second major benefit of teaching children to respond to gestures…

BENEFIT TWO

To get children involved socially… Your child’s gestures play a vital role in early socialization, such as nodding at another child to indicate it is their turn, or waving at another child to show a friendly interest. Thus appropriate use of gestures will enhance your child’s involvement in social play with other children. Which completes the ancient dictum: “...involve me and I learn.”

There are many approaches parents use to promote gestural communication in children; often without conscious awareness.

BENEFIT THREE