ASL Signs for Symptoms - Communicating Health Experiences

ASL Signs for Common Symptoms

American Sign Language (ASL) is a complex visual language used by many deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. It involves specific hand shapes, palm orientations, and facial expressions to convey words and concepts. Knowing key ASL signs can help people who are deaf or have hearing loss communicate their symptoms effectively.

ASL Alphabet

The ASL alphabet uses a distinct hand shape for each letter. To fingerspell a word, you make the hand shape for each letter in order. This allows you to spell out symptoms that don't have common signs. It's helpful to learn the full ASL alphabet before learning signs for specific symptoms.

Number Signs

Numbers are also signed using specific hand shapes. Counting on your fingers up to the number five is common. Mastering number signs allows you to indicate important details like a pain level from 1 to 10 or a fever reading.

Iconic Signs

Some ASL signs visually imitate what they represent. These iconic signs can help demonstrate symptoms clearly. For example, the ASL sign for headache involves pointing your index fingers at your temples and making circles. The sign for dizzy is making circles with one hand as if imitating vertigo.

Body Part Signs

Since many symptoms manifest in certain body parts, knowing ASL signs for body parts is essential. These include common signs like HEAD, EYES, NOSE, MOUTH, CHEST, STOMACH, BACK, ARM, LEG, and more. Pointing to the part of the body experiencing a symptom is key.

Pain Signs

Signs for different types and locations of pain provide helpful symptom details:

• Toothache - Hand cupping cheek or jaw
• Earache - Palm covering ear
• Headache - Fingertips circling head
• Chest pain - Hands crossed over chest
• Stomachache - One hand grasping stomach
• Back pain - Hands on lower back

You can indicate pain severity (mild, moderate, severe) through facial expressions and body movements.

Nausea and Vomiting

Signs related to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea:

• Nausea - Wrist rotating at chest
• Vomit - Fingers flicking out from mouth
• Diarrhea - Hands pointing down in repeated motion

Breathing and Cough Signs

Signs for respiratory symptoms like:

• Cough - Fist at chest coughing
• Sneeze - Index fingers under nose, head tilting back
• Choking - Hands clutched at throat
• Shortness of breath - Open palms moving up chest

Rash and Skin Signs

Skin conditions may be signed by:

• Rash - Fingertips brushing skin
• Itch - Fingers scratching skin
• Sore - Pointing to location on body

Temperature Signs

Signs for fever, chills, and overheating include:

• Fever - Back of hand to forehead
• Chills/shaking - Arms crossed, hands rubbing arms
• Sweat - Fingertips brushing forehead
• Hot - Fanning self with hand

Tiredness and Dizziness

Fatigue and balance issues can be signed:

• Tired - Hand(s) propping up head
• Dizzy - Index finger spiraling
• Faint - Hand to forehead, head tilting sideways

ASL Signs for Other Common Symptoms

Additional useful and descriptive ASL signs for symptoms include:

• Swelling - Hands indicating puffiness
• Bruise - Fingers pressing on skin
• Stiff - Hands unable to move joints
• Tingling - Fingers fluttering on limb
• Weakness - Wrists drooping down
• Cramps - Hands massaging calf or other muscle
• Numbness - Hands repeatedly touching limb

Specific ASL Signs for Medical Symptoms

There are also signs that allow deaf individuals to communicate specific medical symptoms for certain conditions more accurately:

Flu Signs

The flu is signed by combining signs like ACHY, TIRED, FEVER, CHILLS, COUGH, SNEEZE, SORE THROAT, and VOMIT.

COVID Signs

COVID-19 symptoms in ASL may include COUGH, FEVER, CHILLS, DIFFICULT BREATHING, HEADACHE, FATIGUE, BODY ACHE, LOSS OF TASTE/SMELL.

Concussion Signs

A concussion can be signed using HEAD INJURY along with symptoms like HEADACHE, DIZZY, BLURRY VISION, CONFUSION, NAUSEA, PASSED OUT.

Allergic Reaction Signs

Showing someone is having an allergic reaction uses signs like HIVES, ITCHING, SWELLING, TROUBLE BREATHING, VOMITING, DIZZY, FAINT.

Seizure Signs

A seizure may be signed by combining terms like SUDDEN, SHAKING, LOST CONSCIOUSNESS, CONFUSION, INVOLUNTARY MOVEMENTS.

Stroke Signs

Signs like FACE DROOPING, ARM/LEG WEAKNESS, SPEECH PROBLEMS, SUDDEN HEADACHE, DIZZY, NUMBNESS, VISION LOSS, CONFUSION indicate a possible stroke.

Heart Attack Signs

A heart attack can be conveyed using CHEST PAIN, PRESSURE, NUMBNESS IN ARM/JAW, NAUSEA, SWEATING, DIZZY, SHORT OF BREATH.

Diabetes Signs

Signs of diabetes include THIRSTY, HUNGRY, FREQUENT URINATION, VISION CHANGES, TINGLING HANDS/FEET, SLOW HEALING WOUNDS.

Using ASL to Describe Subjective Symptom Experiences

Since symptoms are often subjective, ASL offers ways to add helpful descriptive details:

Pain Quality

Signs can characterize pain as SHARP, DULL, TIGHT, NUMB, SHOOTING, STABBING, PULSING, BURNING, CRAMPING.

Pain Spreading

You can show pain RADIATING or MOVING to other locations from the origin.

Pain Timing

Demonstrate whether pain is CONSTANT or COMES AND GOES with signs for frequency and duration.

What Makes Symptoms Worse or Better

Explain triggers that INCREASE or DECREASE symptoms using signs like TOUCH, PRESSURE, EATING, MOVING, RESTING, STRESS, COLD, HEAT.

Impact of Symptoms

Show how symptoms affect you with signs like INTERRUPTING SLEEP, PREVENTS WORK, LIMITS ACTIVITIES, REDUCES CONCENTRATION.

Emotional Impact

Share feelings about symptoms through emotional signs like FRUSTRATED, OVERWHELMED, ANXIOUS, DEPRESSED, ANGRY, AFRAID.

Duration

Time-related signs allow you to share how long symptoms have lasted, such as: NEW, ACUTE, CHRONIC, RECURRENT, PERSISTENT, INTERMITTENT.

Emergency ASL Signs for Severe or Dangerous Symptoms

There are important emergency ASL signs to know in case a symptom seems potentially life-threatening and immediate medical care is needed:

• SEVERE - Conveys symptom intensity
• SUDDEN - Indicates abrupt onset
• EXTREME - Describes significance of symptom
• UNBEARABLE - Shows symptom is unmanageable
• WORST EVER - Signals this is the worst symptom experienced
• SEEK HELP NOW - Requests immediate medical care
• EMERGENCY - Warns situation seems critical and urgent

Learning ASL signs for symptoms equips deaf individuals to communicate their health experiences clearly. Mastering key signs for common and concerning symptoms, as well as descriptive details, provides meaningful self-advocacy skills.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.