Using apps to learn sign language will make it easier to communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing and promote true social inclusion. However, this isn’t their only advantage; they also offer other personal benefits, such as brain stimulation by simultaneously combining visual, motor, and spatial areas.
Learning sign language has its own unique characteristics, as it’s like learning a new language ; the signs are adapted to the idiosyncrasies and idioms of each particular country. For example, to say that you liked something or that it was pleasant, in Spain the idiom is “mola,” while in Mexico they say “chido.” The same applies to the different signs used in sign language.
To help you communicate with deaf or hard-of-hearing friends, family, or acquaintances, here is a list of apps for learning sign language .
Apps for learning sign language
Learning sign language can be valuable for your personal and professional skills, so check out these apps and unlock this challenge:
Dictionary of Spanish Sign Language (DILSE) (iOS, Android)
It’s a bilingual app (LSE – Spanish) for learning sign language that uses more than 10,000 signs. It has a search function by word and provides the signs that represent each word through photos and videos of finger movements.
The signs are also categorized by theme. You can download the learning materials to share or save them to your device. Mark your favorite signs or those you’ll use most often for quick reference. The platform is constantly updated with new communication signs.
Sign me (Android)
It’s an app that lets you learn Spanish Sign Language using custom machine learning models. Configure the learning materials by toggling options like sign language, sign language with subtitles, sign language with simple subtitles, or videos with sound.
Say it in sign language (Android)
It’s an app for learning sign language with Mexican slang. It has a text search function where you enter the word you want to learn, and it displays the signs in photos showing how to position your fingers and hands. It shows the alphabet letter by letter and its corresponding sign.
IncluSeñas (Android)
It’s a free app that lets you learn basic sign language. It has a wide variety of idioms adapted to different countries like Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Spain, and Mexico.
It covers topics such as food, animals, actions, the alphabet, numbers, clothing, and more. It combines instruction with videos and photos; there’s audio to associate sounds with hand movements, educational games, and more.
Baby Sign Language: ASL Kids (iOS)
It’s an app where 12-year-olds learn to use common sign language from the ASL dictionary and baby sign language. Each sign is accompanied by a photograph and an audio button that stimulates speech and listening skills.
There are question-and-answer games, finger spelling with up to 58 signs, and bonus packs with over 200 signs to learn. The app has no ads or social media integration; everything is managed within the app.
Yapaykuy Ttext to Signs (iOS)
It’s an app that lets you convert text to sign language; just type and the system transforms it into finger signs. Configure voice actions to improve understanding between listening and signing.
LearnSign (iOS)
It’s an app for learning sign language using themed activities to show you how to sign words and sentences with your fingers. It translates from different languages to signs, has a sign library, uses videos for learning, includes idioms specific to the selected country, and more. You can search for words using its personal dictionary.
