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Imagine being able to yabber all you want at home and some places, but being unable to speak at all at school or other places.  That’s what it’s like for kids with Selective Mutism, though it’s not a conscious choice!

 

These kids are misunderstood and stick out.  Boys are seen as difficult and naughty, girls as shy and stupid.  Obvious approaches – like bribes or punishment – simply don’t work.  In fact, they generally make the situation a whole lot worse!  Such kids “choose” to miss out rather than risk failure, and they do miss out, both socially and academically.

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Mutism may be related to anxiety, but it’s so much more than that.  Selective Mutes are strong‑willed and tough to manoeuvre and manage when they’re worried about risking doing something.  The problem grows for parents too, as they deal with comments, criticisms, blame and helplessness.  It grows further still for teachers trying to teach and assess them, and other professionals trying to assess or help them.

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As a parent or professional, what can you really do when you are confronted by:

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• a child (full of quiet quirks) who barely responds (if at all) and who seems to respond contrarily to every logical approach?

• a family who have probably been blamed or told it’s their fault for far too long, who are embarrassed or who are trying desperately to protect their little one?

• other professionals and systems who are often at wit’s end, trying to help, or who are finding these kids just too quirky and difficult?

• & not matter what you try simply nothing seems to work at all!!!

 

Believe it or not, this is not an insurmountable problem,

and you really can make a difference and help,

but it does help to know as many of the pitfalls to avoid as possible,

and have the right quirky mind-set to start with. 

 

Quiet Qworks is about just that: 

giving you a glimpse of some of these quiet quirks

and hopefully a useful and positive, constructive approach

to helping these truly amazing, albeit challenging difficulties.