The Ideal Classroom Setting for the Selectively Mute Child

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Summary: Review from a special education teacher
Review: I am a special education teacher and I have searched high and low for a book that would be beneficial for me, my student, and the parents. After reading this book, I realized that this book is a necessity for anyone who comes in contact with a selective mute child/person/student/relative... ECT... I have gained many techniques and information from this book. Prior to this book, could not find any decent books relating to the selective mute except this one. Not only is this book "decent" it should be mandatory! If you do not purchased this book you will be missing out valuable information that the doctors don't even know!

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Summary: Do not hold my child back just because she won't talk.
Review: I received a call from my Kindergartners teacher saying they wanted to hold her back because they could not assess her because she would not talk in class. I asked them to send me the assessments and my daughter did perfectly. I had to fight to make people understand that my daughter is bright and not willfully being defiant. She has an Communication anxiety disorder that most likely is genetic. I went to my DR. with information I received from the SelectiveMutism.org site and got an assessment from my Doctor. I then took this assessment to my childs school and was able to put a 504 plan in place. I also requested that they order this book, and the others written by Elisa Shipon-Blum and hope they will work on understanding this disorder.
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In my search to find the answers to why my middle child acted so differently than my other 4, and not receiving any answers, I began my own quest. I read books that explained temperments and it helped me understand my daughter. All of the books such as, "Raising your Spirited Child", "The Dificult Child", "The Strong Willed Child", "The Explosive Child" all had the same quality/traits that my daughter was exhibiting. However, it did not address her not speaking in certain situations. I believe all these books can be tied in with Selective Mutism / Communication Anxiety and other Childhood Anxieties. I don't know why my daughter has all these other symptoms such as low sensory, low frustration levels, etc., but after reading the forums at selectivemutism.org I have found that most of these children with SM have the same characteristics. Many have been misdiagnosed with ODD & Autism, among other things.