hi my name is sharon and i've been a member of this group for some
time but never posted, just read, but today i really feel lead to
post a message. my son sean is 9 and when he was 5 he was
officially diagnosed with selective mutism and generalized anxiety
disorder. He completed 2 years of pre k and 1 year of kindergarten
without uttering one single word. at home he was fine, loud,
outgoing, playful, maybe a bit shy towards people he didn't know but
still talked to them. our pediatrician sent us to one counseler
that met with us and spoke to us and immediately wanted to put sean
in a group house with other children with behavioral disorders that
met 3 times a week for several hours and start him on medicine. we
were like no way. his doctor agreed and suggested another
counselor, someone we had to travel 30 minutes to get to and meet
first 2 times a week, then 1 time a week and finally 2 times a
month. she was wonderful. sean was shy and held back but we all
felt that progress was made. he started the first grade in a new
school and his teacher was a wonderful young teacher and from the
first day he spoke and made friends easily. they had to check his
records and pull him out of class to ask him questions to make sure
they had the right child's records because he was so outgoing from
day one. Today sean is finishing the 3rd grade and is exceptional.
he gets wonderful grades, participated in class discussion, has
friends, and most of all has a wonderfully creative imagination. he
draws and writes stories like i've never seen in a child of his
age. i credit it to the several years he was silent and now is free
to share his thoughts. i believe that he was just ready, that's
what the doctor told us, that when he was ready and felt secure
enough he would speak and he did. we never pressured him or pushed
him in situations when we knew he was uncomfortable and when the day
came, he knew it also. we are very blessed and happy that he now
feels no anxiety over speaking around others. i just today felt the
need to share and i pray for all of you and your children and that
they too will soon find their voices and want others to hear.