Help me to speak - can you remember something?

[Ellaroo]

I wonder if anyone watched the documentary on Channel 4 last night called 'Help me to Speak' about a disorder called Selective Mutism. Our dd suffers from this and we want to get in contact with the woman (the author of the paper on 'slipping in' therapy) who saw the little girl called Madeleine. However, stupidly we were so transfixed by watching the actual programme and seeing all the things that dd does there on screen (we'd never realised it was a recognised condition) that we failed to make a note of her name and I can't find it on the channel 4 website. Any one with a good memory - or even anyone who can remember her first name??? Thanks.

was it Maggie Johnson, article \link{http://society.guardian.co.uk/children/story/0,,1744100,00.html\here}

I think it was Maggie Johnson. Sorry tried to do a link but not got hang of it yet. I yahooed selective mutism sliding in maggie and it gave a channel 4 site. Might be what you are looking for.
Best of luck with your dd.

It was a fascinating programme and the sliding in process looked like it could work really well with perseverence. I really admired that mums patience!

\link{http://www.speechmark.net/speechmark/New_Titles/selectivemutism.htm\she co-authored a book}

oh and she works for east kent community NHS trust so you might be able to track her down there

contact details of trust

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) representative Jill Butler for information about trust services and compliments.
Phone: 0800 783 9972 or 01227 812020
Fax: 01227 812332
Email: [email protected]

sorry .. I was googling away in an addictive way

Thank you so much - yes that was her. Yes, it was a fascinating programme - although both difficult and comforting for us to watch, but feel hugely grateful that programmes like that are being made as we wouldn't have had a clue that a condition like that would have a name and organisations who might be able to help. Thanks again!

Just thought I'd mention that it's repeated at 3.20 am on Thursday morning so you could set your VCR!

Ellaroo,
I have just written about a case of SM for a parenting mag.
SMIRA are very helpful, have you been in touch with them?

Thank you so much for all your brilliant replies. We will definitely set the video as I feel like we were so overwhelmed watching it that a lot of it we didn't actually take in and I'd no idea it was on again - thanks. Unicorn - which parenting mag is it? (will understand if you don't want to say if you are trying to remain anonymous). I think we are going to try and get in touch with the speech therapist and see if she would be willing to help.

Ellaroo - my dd is Selectively Mute. She is 4 and doesn't talk at all at nursery. She only speaks to a few chosen adults and a couple of kids outside nursery too. A year ago she would only speak to me, ds, and 2 other people (not even dh!) so she has improved a great deal.

She has been referred to an Educational Psychologist and a Speech Therapist, but has seen neither yet.

I missed the programme, but some one taped it for me so I am looking forward to watching it.

Wallace, so pleased to hear that your dd has improved - that must have been very upsetting for your dh and for you to have to witness it. Wishing you luck with the education psychologist - do let us know how it went if you get a moment. I think the programme was fantastic, although strange watching my own child's actions being played out on screen by another child - both disturbing and a relief to see that it is not just dd. The children were extremely likable and it was ultimately very hopeful.

My dd will speak to the children of family friends, but not to their parents (I repeat their questions and then she will answer the question to me). At her last nursery she didn't speak at all, but at her current one she speaks to answer questions of an 'academic' nature, but won't to speak to answer any social questions, to say 'hello' or even to request to go to the toilet or to have help with something. She is unable to make new friends as she isn't able to speak to them, however, like Madeleine, she will join in with games, smiles quite a bit and isn't reclusive. However, she isn't as sensitive to being overheard as Madeleine in the film obviously was.

Good luck with your dd.

Tried to watch the video tonight, but either the video or the player isn't working properly and I am only getting sound.

Dd doesn't play with the other children at nursery unfortunately, but has recently started joining in occasionally with circle games and in the gym. The teachers say she is becoming more animated as well, and will giggle a bit, and almost join in actions of songs, etc

She alos doesn't like to be overheard byu people she knows (eg nursery children or teachers), but this is getting better and she is getting noisier in the nursery cloakroom. She doesn't seem to have a problem about being overheard by strangers, for example has been known to be quite noisy in a cafe etc.

We got a letter through today saying she will be seen by the speech therapist within 6 weeks...here's hoping!

Wallace, did you see that Marthamoo said it's being broadcast at 3.20am again this morning? Might be worth trying to reset the video?

Thnaks, but for some strange reason we don't get channel 4 on our digital (don't get terrestial signal either) so I had to get someone else to tape it. I tried another video and it is the player that isn't working, so I will take the video to my mum's to watch tomorrow :)

Finally watched it! It was very interesting, and it was lovely to see the progress the children made.

I did think it could have been quite worrying for a parent, who has a child with SM, watching - a lot of mentions about being an isolated adult with no job or relationship, and even mental health problms. The programme didn't even mention that most kids with SM grow out of it without intervention.

Having said that it did make me more determined to get help for dd.