admin October 8th, 2009
A reader of the blog wanted to share with us a book that he recommends about selective mutism. If you have a chance to pick it up and read it please send in a review for everyone. I’d love to have your feedback.
I just became aware of a brand new book that may be a good resource for some your blog readers. It’s called “Why Dylan Doesn’t Talk” available at Lulu
Hope this helps some of your readers.
admin July 19th, 2009
I just came across this magnificent opportunity for children who suffer from selective mutism. It is a great chance for kids to engage and feel a sense of belonging. If you know anyone in the New York State area what a great thing. Check out the full details at the Selective Mutism website.
Camp Brave Buddies is a one-week summer day camp
and simulated classroom for 4-6 year old children diagnosed
with Selective Mutism (SM). SM is an anxiety problem in
children who are typically quite socially engaged and
talkative in their home situations, but who have very
significant difficulties communicating verbally in school,
usually with both teachers and peers, as well as in other
public situations, such as ballet, gym, sports, or religious
classes. Most of these children are quite happy to go to
school and activities but dread having to verbally
communicate with others outside of their “safe” zones. They
learn to get by with nods and gestures and cannot fully
participate in the joy of conversation and the give-and-take of
friendship. Some children with SM are also even hesitant to
participate non-verbally, making even the simplest of typical
tasks, such as Show & Tell, quite scary. The start of each
school year brings fear for children with SM about how they
will get by, once again relying on gestures, and not being able
to get the words to come out.
admin June 16th, 2009
Selective mutism is a disorder usually first diagnosed in childhood. The first known cases date back to 1877 when German physician Adolph Kussmaul labeled children who did not speak as having “aphasia voluntaria.” Children who are selectively mute fail to speak in specific social situations, such as at school or in the community. It is estimated that less than 1% of children suffer with selective mutism, and that the disorder is more common in girls than in boys.
admin May 7th, 2009
AT HOME, Corrine behaves like a normal seven-year-old. She is chatty with her parents and her sister and loves telling stories to her grandfather.At school, though, she is known as ‘the girl who doesn’t talk’. She freezes when a stranger speaks to her and stares blankly when asked for her name or age.
She kept silent through two years in kindergarten and now, four months into Primary 1, she has still not uttered a word to her teacher or classmates.
At first, her parents thought she was just shy. Her mother said: ‘I didn’t think it was a big problem. I just thought she was a little reserved when out in public.’
But once she entered kindergarten, they realised it was much more than that.
By Sandra Davie, Senior Writer
What a great article about selective mutism. Click here to view the full article.
admin January 15th, 2009
With plenty of help from his family and the community, 8-year-old Ryan Fittry of Hustontown is able to donate $85 toward research and treatment of selective mutism. Ryan was diagnosed with the anxiety disorder three years ago.
This is such a great article about spreading awareness for Selective Mutism. It once again raises the old saying, “It takes a village to raise a child”. Hopefully Ryan has raised awareness in his community and for many others.
admin October 2nd, 2008
Looking back to this time last year I can’t believe how far we’ve come. At this time last year we were inundated with doom and gloom scenarios by Sydney’s teacher of how her shortcomings will only set her up for failure and how if she didn’t co-operate she would not progress when she’s in grade one. I could bore you with detailed quotes as they will forever be embedded in my brain but I will not for two reasons, one the teacher does not deserve that much time or effort spent on thinking about her and secondly because the one thing last year taught me to do is stand my ground and fight for what I undeniably know is good and right for my daughter so in a crazy kind of way I’m happy that she was so out to lunch when it came to Sydney and her “shortcomings”.
This morning Sydney fought me a little on the whole idea of going to school but despite her verbal banter of how much she didn’t want to go I ploughed along putting on clothes and attempting to change the subject. “Distract, distract, distract…so you know what tonight we should have some time with your guinea pig I think he misses you, do you think it’s going to rain today?” After all was said and done she announced to me that perhaps she’ll try to today not to cry. To which I replied, “well Syd, you have to find a way like you did yesterday to take those feelings that make you feel sad or angry or anxious and you need to put them aside and think about how wonderful it will be to be in line and talk to your friends and see how they are today.” I never want to dwell on anything too long with her because it gets her thinking and sometimes, most times those thoughts are the worst thing for her.
As she said she did not cry at drop off and in fact spoke to two of her friends in line. Yippy! A hug and kiss later and I was out the door.
At lunchtime, as we lulled over macaroni and cheese something provoked Sydney to say,
”In class we did sock and chalk but I just sat and watched.”
“Oh, was something troubling you?”. I said
“No, well I was sitting beside my teacher and I just watched!” Hmm…maybe I should delve into this a little more so I asked her, “Is there something we can change when you do sock and chalk that would make you feel more comfortable so you’d perhaps want to colour too?” As the wheels of thought were spinning in Sydney’s head in my head prayers were being sent for enlightment of the whole situation. What transpired was a 15 minute long discussion about a boy who she is actually scared of who is seated beside her both at the desks and on the carpet. He is a little rough with the other boys and although I think he draws the line with the girls he is a rambunctious 6 year old. The fact that Sydney has seen him kick and punch and push people is enough to frighten her into thinking that he may do it to her to. She perceives him as a threat. I asked her if she’d like for us to try and talk to the teacher about perhaps moving seats around and she agreed. I then praised her for letting me know that there was a problem and reinforced the idea that both the teacher and I were only looking after her best interest and if there is ever a situation that she feels uncomfortable with she should let me know so we together can try and rectify it.
Who would have thought that the little girl who at this time last year was literally hiding in her cubby and in the throes of becoming selectively mute would have the courage to explain what made her frightened in an attempt to make it better. What has prompted the change this year? A less toxic environment would definately prompt change. As well, a little bit of maturity has helped Sydney come around, you know that old saying, “A year older a year wiser”. But more importantly a clear understanding beyond all else that the root of Sydney’s behaviour is anxiety based is the key to help Sydney find her voice again. I’m so excited for her!
If you’d like to find out more about Selective Mutism check out these fantastic links:
http://www.selectivemutism.org/
http://www.designandcopy.ca/silentchild/
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