I did not specify ASL in my previous post. ANY sign system is better than none when spoken language is not an option. While we chose, and prefer, ASL, I know it's not the only option available.
Out of curiosity, what are the other options? If your otherwise typical deaf child can not speak or process a spoken language and a signing system is not used, what's left? Sure, they'll learn written language later, but that doesn't help when your preliterate 2 year-old is freaking out all over the kitchen floor and can't tell you why because there no way to tell you.
