Selective mutism

[Keepo]

Anybody with a child with SM it is being discussed on radio 2 and there is a progam on bbc tomorrow call My child won't speak.

Can anyone tell me if my dd should have an IEP ? The SENCO said we didn't need one.

I have to confess I don't really know what one is. My daughter may have had one in that she had some targets, but she reached them so quickly that they stopped writing them down. I think your daughter certainly needs some individual attention to help her to progress. The Resource Manual I mentioned before will help to make clear what those targets should be. Make them too 'big' and the child will simply not even attempt to reach them.

Thanks for your reply she does not struggle at all academicaly at the moment. They recently put her on the G and T list. However, she gets no one to one time at all and there is no plan as such to help her improve. She makes no eye contact or any attempt to talk to staff at school. They do not help her by letting her use a white board to answer questions or anything.

I really need to go and talk to them don't I. I am looking forward to having that manual now it will really help.

Bless I just listened to the radio show again. I heard the dog this time I feel much less alone just hearing that there are other people out there.

cloudhopper-Nope I don't offend easily thanks for your concern the word "mutes" in order to describe a child of mine and other children with this condition is a pet hate of mine though. I appreciate your acceptance of the facts and I think keepo was spot on in what she said.

you have to keep on at the schools, they are very good, once they understand the situation. i found that getting involved with CAMHS was the mistake in my daughters case, but then was else is there.

it may seem a long way in advance but senior school are very good, but with the workload of exams the problem of the SM can becomoe a lost.
have been referrd back to a speech and lang therapist but no one seems to know what do do, which is the frustrating thing, for everyone

Do you think there should be more research into selctive mutes ? Its seems to me not to b that well know of a conditon ( is that the right word?)

PS I do talk more clearly than I write expressing myself on paper is not my strength.

PPS IEPs am not a big fan of they seem to me to be used as more of a paper excersie than anything. Are useful to show progression.

yes, but problem is that the people who have the problem, the children, have difficulty in showing how they feel..... we have to do the talking for them, sometimes it can come out in our words and not theirs !

NOW

BBC1

My child won't speak

Brilliant program have forwarded it to dds teacher and SENCO

Thank goodness it is finally getting some coverage !

"the children, have difficulty in showing how they feel..... we have to do the talking for them"

so very true