I have an 18 month old who is behind in his speech development and the therapist has started him learning sign language. My question is....will this slow down his speech even more because he can now communicate with sign instead of speaking? He is picking up on the signs very quickly. He seems less stressed and happier.

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Baby sign language is great, I wouldn't worry about it slowing down his speaking .. While you or your well-meaning friends and family may fear that signing will retard your infant’s ability to speak, teaching them to sign will undoubtedly help them to say their first words.
Children associate symbols with sounds and meaning. It is amazing to see a child learn to read by using hand gestures.
Not only will signing help your child learn new words, they will be able to communicate effectively and have her thoughts and feelings understood.
Good luck and have fun!