r/languagelearning • u/SeverelyFantasic • 22h ago

How do you sign properly during the winter?

(Sorry my first language isnt english) My wife was recently diagnosed deaf a this spring and we have been doing good learning sign. But now there has becoming issue becuae it’s starting to get very cold for her hands.

She has arthritis and her fingers stiffen during cold. We live in a country where it gets very cold from November - April. She wear gloves but it’s hard for her to sign with them on, does anyone have similar situation where they have a solution? She has her phone to otherwise bit it is also somewhat tedious to use for every day.

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u/zra_isnt_listening 19h ago

This is also an issue I have run into and it's really irritating! Sometimes making gestures larger can help, or i often wiggle my fingers lots while keeping then in my pockets to keep blood flow, but this may be difficult with her arthritis :/

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u/AsciiDoughnut 17h ago

I couldn't find much, but this thread recommended hand warming packs. Maybe she could have a couple of those in her coat pockets to allow for lighter gloves?

https://www.reddit.com/r/asl/s/tXbR41Mzu8

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u/Stafania 14h ago

Looking for nice gloves that are easy to sign with is one way. Myself, I often prefer thick warm mittens and only remove the mitten from the active hand for signing. When I stop signing I put the mitten on again. It’s possible to have some thin gloves under a loose mitten too. Others use comfortable thin gloves that are good for signing and supplement that with putting the hands in the coat pockets for additional warmth. Others just remove gloves when necessary, or sign with gloves and just become skilled at trying to be clear. It depends on what you want to sign about. Obvious and easy things are not so hard to convey, but complex topics might be better communicated indoors.

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u/a_book_maven 7h ago

I also have this problem in winter. Occupational therapy for my hands had me try paraffin wax baths which help a lot. It was about a hundred dollars to get a reusable setup for home but if it helps and you can afford it, that might be good for her.

The other idea is hand warmth. In signing environments I use a thin solid color glove under a larger thick mitten. And hand warmers for extra cold days (there are rechargeable electric, single use chemical, or reusable non-electric options). Plus just trying not to sign as much outside in the winter, and adapting signs to hurt less.