Let me just double your sentiment that you can't rush SM. I know it sounds
discouraging to those of you with younger children but there's something
about high school. My daughter who had many successes and set backs through
elementary school, is a sophomore this year and doing great!! (she has a job
interview this afternoon) Don't give up hope and don't rush them Good
Luck!!
----- Original Message -----
From: <abell50758@...>
To: <selectivemutismsupportgroup2@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 4:47 AM
Subject: [Selective Mutism Support Group] UK perspective


> Hello all, I am in the UK and have a daughter with SM. She has just
> turned
> 13 and has never spoken to any of the teachers, and until recently had
> not
> spoken to anyone outside the home for more than 4 years.
>
> It has been very difficult over the years, but one thing I have realised
> is
> that there is absolutely no way of speeding up the process of overcoming
> SM.
> Her last years at primary school were very bad, she did not speak to
> anyone
> at all and was unable to participate in any kind of group activity. I
> tried
> incentives, school helpers, all sorts of things, but got nowhere. She
> rejected any kind of help or therapy.
>
> However since starting high school in September 2004, she has gone from
> strength to strength. It's a very slow process, but last October she
> began to
> speak to a few of her friends. Although she still hasn't spoken to the
> staff,
> they encourage her to communicate non-verbally through pointing and
> writing
> things down. This is something she would not have considered before, so
> they
> are pleased that at least there is some progress.
>
> We still have a long way to go, but I think the main factor in her
> improvement is being in a very supportive environment where people do not
> make an
> issue of her SM but just accept that's the way she is and there is no
> pressure on
> her to speak. As she grows more confident in herself she is able to do
> new
> things and I now feel that one day she will be able to function normally
> in
> society, this was unthinkable a couple of years ago. As long as I can
> see
> continuous small improvements I am no longer so worried about her. She
> talks to
> me a lot about her concerns and I am sure that feeling supported and safe
> is
> really important to her. After all, SM is an anxiety-based thing and
> pressure to speak can be counter-productive.
>
> Hope this gives some hope to those of you with young SM children. I
> believe
> it does get better, though it may take years!
>
> Anne
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
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>