Selective Mutism-sliding-in

[bunnyhops]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with selective mutism and the sliding-in process?

My ds who is 5 in August has been in reception since last September and had not spoken a word in school but speaks at home.He also has a speech and language problem and is currently seeing a SALT.

The SALT recommended we try the sliding-in whereby I go into the school for the last half hour of the day and go to another part of the school just me and ds and read and gradually introduce a teacher or another pupil to join us when we feel ds is ready for this.

My first day he said a few words to me but went quiet when anyone came near to the room.The second day he was finishing a drawing in the classroom so I went in with his books and waited and to everyones amazement he came over and said"This is my library book"

From then we sat at a desk nearby in the classroom with the other children at the other end of the classroom and he talked non stop for half an hour.Then his teacher joined us and he was chatting away playfully.

It was very emotional for all concerned and the teachers were overwhealmed as they had'nt heard him talk before.

The folowing day he said nothing again but as soon as I went in yesterday for our next session he spoke almost straight away.He even spoke to one of his closest friends and the little boy turned to me and said"Can he talk now"

My concern is that he will start to rely on only talking when I am their and just wondered if anyone had any experiences of this they could share with me.
The SALT was pleased the sliding-in had worked so quickly and was curious to know if anyone else had tried this process and how quick and successful it was?

hi ...im feeling a bit gushy...but that ha sbrought a little tear to my eye.

i saw a film once about children with selective mutism and how hard it is for them to feel able to speak at school...so i feel really happy for your ds

has he said anything about it to you?

i hope he continues to slide in

Thanks beansontoast-it is an emotional rollercoaster.

He has'nt said anything to me,it's like he has taken it in his stide and I suspose it's normal for him to talk with me present so it may well feel natural to him.

The SALT recommends that the school and myself don't make a big thing about it and add on extra pressure to the situation but can be quite difficult as only this morning a little boy came up to me and said "he can talk now,will he talk today"

I have found at ds's school the teachers and helpers are not that well informed about selective mutism and the SALT has said it is crucial that it has handled correctly.
I have had comments from people before that they think ds is just being stubborn and do I get frustrated with him.Frustration is the last thing I feel.

We are now waiting for someone to go into school and talk to ds's teacher and inform them of the best way to deal with selective mutism,butI have concerns that the helpers in school of which there are many will not have the same knowledge.

Surly their should be something in place in schools to deal with this as I would imagine they may well have come across selective mutism with another child before.

This is a lovely story BH! You must be so pleased with your ds. FWIW (and I am a total non-expert) I am sure you will be able to slide yourself out in the same way you're sliding him in. I mean you can gradually withdraw yourself so that first you are there and chatting, then there and chatting a bit less while someone else takes up a little bit more of the chat. Then you're sittng a bit further away, then around but not in the room etc.

Thanks shimmy22-that sounds like a great idea.
Stay in the room so he can see me and let him talk to the teacher but he will know I am still their for his reassurance.

in the film i saw, the role of 'trusted adult' is gradually adopted by another ...so there is a sort of handover (sliding out as shimmy said)and teh child goes on to develop more confidnece in small steps with different people and in different school situations..to very good effect it must be said

god i bet its emotional...he sounds like he's doing amazingly

Bump

Bunnyhops

I was a talk last week which covered Selective mutism, and apparently the less rection the child gets when they speak at school the better, becuase whilst suh a breakthrough is a very very big deal for all concerned it should be treated as normally as if it were any of the other children speaking, he also said that often once they move up into the next class it stops, especially if theres no expectation for the child to not talk...

Have they only just started the sliding in technique? its brilliant that it works, but it seems so sad that they've let him go almost a full academic year.

emmalou78-Thanks,that's very interesting.

He has been seeing a speech therapist for that year but in a group setting and without me being present.He did'nt talk then so I suggested the therapist came to our house and spoke to him in his own surroundings as the SALT found it hard to diagnoise him without having heard him speak.
She came to the home and he spoke to her straight away.
It's all about resourses at the end of the day and lack of money which is why I have hard to push hard to get this far.

It's difficult at school because the other children make an issue out of ds speaking as they have'nt heard him before and obviously small children will not understand not to make an issue of it.

He spoke again today whilst I was there for that half an hour but not when I am not there.
But his confidence is growing more and more,so am very hopeful.

Thanks Celia2,very helpful if you could let me know the title of that book.

Thanks celia2,much apprieciated.

Following on from this thread I started I wondered if anyone could recommend any good books on the subject of selective mutism.Have tried my local library but they don't have any on this subject at all.