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Learn Your Name in ASL

Practicing sign language may benefit your brain

By

Staying Sharp

Updated April 21, 2023

Updated April 21, 2023

A chart of the American Sign Language alphabet

S-S-S/Getty Images

Quick Win

This three-dimensional language may enhance cognitive skills — and lets you communicate with people who use it. Start with something simple.

Try This Today

To spell out words in ASL, or American Sign Language, check out a library book on ASL or look online for an ASL finger-spelling alphabet. (This one is printable.)
Learn the hand position for each letter of your name, and then put them together. You’ll get faster as you go.
Having fun? Consider registering for a beginner ASL class to deepen your knowledge.

Why

Learning ASL can enable you to communicate with more people — which can have ripple effects on your sense of social connection and well-being. Sign language may also enhance some spatial processing skills, according to a study of 66 college students published in 2022 in Sign Language Studies and other research.

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

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