Research and Articles of Interest

Are you interested in doing research about Lámh?

Research about Lámh and manual sign provides services, professionals, families and us with more information, feedback and ideas that can help to support Lámh users and provides rationale and evidence for developments. We welcome approaches from individuals, students and organisations proposing to carry out research about Lámh.

Featured Research and Articles

Embedding key word sign (Lámh) prompts in a shared book reading activity: The impact on communication between children with Down syndrome and their parents
2022 by Frizelle et al. Publication: Journal Language Communication Disorders
The development of a core key word signing vocabulary (Lámh) to facilitate communication with children with down syndrome in the first year of mainstream primary school in Ireland
2022 by Frizelle, P., & Lyons, C. Publication: Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Manual Sign Acquisition in Children with Developmental Disabilities
2019 by Nicola Grove, PhD (Editor) Tizard Centre, University of Kent, United Kingdom and Kaisa Launonen, PhD (Editor) Department of Psychology & Logopaedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland Publication: Nova Science
Use of key word signing for children and adults with intellectual disability in an Irish context
2019 by Byrne, A., Pyne, J., Sheehan, V. Publication: Tizard Learning Disability Review
Retention of signs following a one‐day key word sign training
2018 by by Andy Smidt Constantina Markoulli Chloe Wine Elsie Chang Harmony Turnbull Aylin Huzmeli Monique Hines Publication: British Journal of Learning Disabilities
Key word signing: Parents experiences of an unaided form of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (Lámh)
2018 by Glacken, M., Healy, D., Gilrane, U., Healy-McGowan, S., Dolan, S., Jennings, C., & Walsh-Gallagher, D. Publication: Journal of Intellectual Disabilities
Communication as a human right: Citizenship, politics and the role of the speech-language pathologist
2018 by Declan Murphy, Rena Lyons, Clare Carroll, Mari Caulfield & Gráinne de Paor Publication: International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 20:1, 16-20
Showing Signs: How Lámh sign users, peers and families are involved in awareness raising, training and research
2018 by Maura Bolger, Claire Power, Mary Cullen Publication: Lámh Research Seminar
The Key to Signing – factors impacting the use of Lámh in a disability organisation
2018 by Pyne, J., Byrne, A., Sheehan, V., Cope Foundation Publication: Lámh Research Seminar
Lámh Signs Combined - a research in practice project
2018 by Dolly, A., Noble, E., CRC Publication: Lámh Research Seminar
Teaching Adults With Intellectual Disability Manual Signs Through Their Support Staff: A Key Word Signing Program
2017 by Kristien Meuris; Bea Maes; Inge Zink Publication: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, August 2015, Vol. 24, 545-560. doi:10.1044/2015_AJSLP-14-0062
Augmentative and Alternative Communication: Supporting Children and Adults with Complex Communication Needs (Fourth Edition)
2017 by Beukelman David, R., and Mirenda Pat (Eds.) Publication: Paul Brookes Publishing Co.
Educational research has shown that signing improves early vocabulary learning and communication
2015 by Publication: Down Syndrome Education International (DSE)
Lámh Gives a Helping Hand (Newspaper Article)
2013 by Michelle McDonagh Publication: Irish Times Insight Magazine
Supporting Lámh Users at School (Magazine Article)
2012 by Cullen, M., Stanton, E. Publication: Frontline Magazine, Vol 88
The use of augmentative and alternative communication methods with infants and toddlers with disabilities: a research review
2009 by Branson, D., & Demchak, M. Publication: Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 25(4), 274-286
Lámh - Linking Language and Communication
2009 by Gemma Clerkin, SLT Manager, Lámh Board Member Publication: Lámh
Using Your Hands to Talk
2008 by Karen Bloomberg Publication: University of Newcastle
Teaching productive sign modifications to children with intellectual disabilities
2007 by Rudd, H., Grove, N., Pring, T. Publication: Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Vol. 23, No. 2, Pages 154-163
Research findings to support the use of signs with adults and children who have intellectual and communication difficulties
1999 by Powell, G Publication: Makaton
Enhancing communication skills of children with Down syndrome: Early use of manual signs.
1996 by Launonen, K. Publication: Enhancing communication skills of children with Down Syndrome: Early Use of Manual Signs.