My little sister did too, starting from age 4. The school didn’t believe she could talk until we showed them some home videos. They started to put her in a nurture room as she got older and still wasn’t talking. It was a quiet room full of books, toys, computers and more, with kids like herself. They actually all started talking to each other in little pairs and made it their little spot where they’d all take their lunch to the nurture room and hang out for the whole lunch, funnily enough🤣 they all progressed and branched out to make new friends and now that my sister is 11, it’s amazing to see how far she’s come. She went from not even talking to my grandma, auntie, uncle and cousins during visits, to starting her first day of year 7 all talkative and full of energy and having long phone calls with her friends on the phone. She now makes the most hilarious jokes at my grandma’s house and has the whole family laughing and it’s crazy to think that she never even spoke to them. She’s amazing. I love her so much
I wish we could get rid of the idea of a ‘perfect child’ no child is or will be perfect everyone has their own quirks and problems and they should still be accepted no matter the problem
I had to be a perfect kid in school 😐 and I a, the way I am because of that. I’m not like a bad person and rarely acted out in school because I had to be perfect
I remember being little and there was a girl in my gymnastics class with selective mutism. One day, our teacher said “If Daria speaks today, everyone gets ice cream!” ...It worked, she was so talkative and funny and we all got ice cream at the end. Her case was definitely less severe than Kathrine’s! I’m so happy that she’s improved so much by the end!
What if she didn't feel comfortable enough to? The whole class would have been mad at her for not getting ice cream. I mean its great that didn't happen tho
I had a child who was selectively mute in my class and another child could be hitting them take their toys from them and the child wouldn’t even cry. They wouldn’t peep. If it was safety I would have to step in, if it were toys at first I wouldn’t. I had to be this child’s voice and help them feel comfortable before they would even cry or ask for help.
H T I agree, looking back at it as an adult I don’t think it was the best or most mature way for the teacher to handle the situation (which wasn’t hers to handle)! Luckily it worked out but it easily could have gone another way
My Journey With Meadow its different for everyone. how are you going to tell someone they're lying and roll eyes about it like you really know them. Maybe they just could be recording when it's not happening.
My Journey With Meadow I'm not 12 but you are acting like a Karen telling someone they're lying you don't know them. You don't know everything about everyone's brain so just stop.
If you clicked on this video just because you want to know about the person that's in the title and thumbnail; the girl that you're looking for is Katherine, here are the time stamps for when she comes on: 11:05 22:37 37:38
I think she just meant that somehing physical would be easier to deal with than mental. Which I think is a normal thing to think. It's much easier to deal with say, a broken arm, then say, depression or anxiety.
I had a student like Katherine two years ago. At home she was a vibrant talkative child, but in the classroom and during small group she wouldn't say anything. Sometimes I would hear her from a distance whispering to another child, but the noise was so low you couldn't tell exactly what she was saying. The parents fought with me at first saying nothing was wrong with their child, but after months of fighting back I was able to get her the support she needed. Now she leads whole group lessons in a specialized classroom and is finally opening up!
@@heshanidelange8186 sorry for the late response! im horrible with youtube comments. I didn't necessarily get her out of her myself. i got her tested which she in turn qualified for SPED support. with that she was able to get goals which helped her open up. goals that were "in-line" with her educational needs like talking and verbal expression. she still whispers after two years later, but she now talks to adults.
I'm glad selective mutism is recognized and has therapies right now. When I was a child, 30 years ago, not even the psychologists knew about it. They were just saying that I was a bit shy and would grow out of it. Not true. My classmates were bullying me and adults never understood anything about me. I'm glad things changed so much since.
This was me all throughout childhood and as a result i was sent to special schools and classes. At one point called stubborn by a teacher and put in time outs. Very glad to know it is recognized today and there are other people out there who are the same. It is a struggle that is for sure.
Same here. I never got diagnosed with anything. My parents got told I would grow out of it. The teacher would stop the whole class lesson to demand that I speak and answer him. Classmates got so upset with me all the time. Now I have two autistic kids. One severely
As a person who has autism, in school (due to bullying) I was a selective mute as I didn't understand a lot of things in school, especially the social side of it, so staying quiet was the easiest option.
Same - autistic and still selective mute though not as bad as a kid, and also because of bullying. I found that if I kept my mouth shut people would forget I existed, but if I opened it anything I said would be turned into a weapon to hurt me. Silence was easier.
I’m autistic and was also selective mute during middle school. But I ended up talking to my teachers and friends at high school, which helped me. I was scared of being bullied, but I had friends and teachers that would help and protect me if that ever happened (which never did). And whoever says teachers don’t do anything or don’t care, get a life. Not all teachers are like that. Learn what difference means
Adam has such a healing smile on his face, all the time. I cried with his mom, when he finally got an official diagnosis. Now they're going to be able to send him to a special needs school if need be, rather than fighting with the public schools.
When I was in the 5th grade we got a new girl in like January and her and I became instant friends. She has selective mutism and at first the only way we would communicate is through writing. I tried to help her talk in class and stuff, and overtime she began to whisper in my ear to talk to me. By the end of the year she sang along with the whole class at promotion. Sadly I lost touch with her :(
@@maryxvlone5003 ( Yes, I'm ok, I should accept people as they are ) . I'm sorry to show my disappointement, when those brave kids and parents in this video are struggling with so heavy conditions.
Yeah I wonder the same thing. She was definitely making progress by the end of the documentary though. She was engaging in one-on-one play and communicating with that other little girl. But obviously shut down again when she was with the whole class. Guess it’s just something you have to take baby steps with, like anything.
@yuki cross It's not so much about that...it's that she needs to be able to communicate in every day situations. Her education will suffer, she won't be able to communicate her needs or if she's hurt. I've known of kids who are selective mutes that literally will not tell anyone they are hurt. I know someone literally broke his arm and they only found out when he got home.
I’m selective mute. People try pressuring me into speaking with people. It ain’t very nice. Makes me not wanan talk to people and makes communication feel like a chore and set my anxiety off even more than it already is
Katherine can speak now I was in that class that she was in I am the browned hair girl with the fringe that was in front of her and was friends with her and also this was nearly 10 years ago that they filmed it
I'm 17 and still have SM ;^; Using Zoom has actually made school so much easier, though. Since I can always just use the chat function, I don't feel out of place and I can actually express myself, especially since there's a private chat to message the teacher, and usually a public one for the whole class to see. Feels like I'm actually a part of the class for the first time in my life. Only good thing about 2020 haha.
So i don't have sm but this description perfectly what i felt like through the whole of school. I was just called shy and told to try and speak up in class more.
It's nice to see how accepting the other children are, the way the mute girl's class learned sign language, and her little friend was so kind. And Henry, all his friends stood by him and he's still able to participate in their hobbies.
I grew up with a girl in my dance classes for 8 years that never spoke. She always seemed happy but just extremely shy to speak. Then I found out that at home with her family she was loud and quite the chatterbox. I couldn't believe it! Now I understand she had Selective Mutism. She was a very good dancer so she expressed herself that way I guess.
Not necessarily. I talked a lot at home but when I went to catechism I didn’t speak at all. I was just really shy. I was short and so I had someone pick me up and carry me down the stairs. I have no mutisms, just shy but as an adult I’ve grown to be more outspoken than shy. Not every person shy and quiet has mutisms or something wrong with them. They may just be shy around other people and then grow out of it in adulthood.
I hated school too, but I do love school. But I have some very (not all the time) naughty students in my classroom So one time, some students (they also teens) gave unkind comments to another student (my other classmate)
I actually had to go to what they called pre first grade because I was so scared and shy in Kindergarten that they said I wasn't ready for first grade yet.
All people are unique. Perfection is just that you're astetically pleasing in a certain setting. Nobody can actually define if you are perfect or not. We are all unique and special. (I know I know, I went off a bit but I just want to say I agree with your comment.)
Your right, some people might have asthma or something else that you don't even know. I have a disorder that doesn't allow my body to make certain hormones, but if you looked at me you'd just guess I'm short.
I was like this growing up. My teachers would constantly tell my parents that I hardly spoke up and was really quiet and they would never understand because they had such a talkative kid at home! It got better as I grew older, although I'm still struggling to speak in my college courses!
I was the same way. My parents were defensive about it so I never got any help or therapy. It took a lot of overcoming in my own head and I've accepted that I will always have to deal with it. I'm glad you're taking steps out of your comfort zone, you've got this!
Watching Katherine improve made me emotional because I was in the same situation as her! From the time I was 2 to 7, I struggled with selective mutism. It was one of the hardest things to deal with, but I eventually got on a medication for anxiety and it truly changed everything! I wish Katherine the best in her journey, I'm rooting for her!
I was selectively mute as a child, apparently all my parents said is that I was “shy”, if shyness is complete lack of emotion, not even a smile or a nod and definitely no words then sure. I don’t understand how they just ignored it. Turns out I’m autistic and struggled my entire life with it until I was diagnosed at 38 and started to accept myself.
i think this is very healing, makes me realise i wasn't the only child struggling. There will always be people who are a little different and need some extra support, and that's ok, we can't all be the same
When Katherine started crying, I actually started to develop teary eyes as I understand exactly what she's going through as I am also a selective on top of ADHD.😕
Kathrine really touched me. My best friend was selective mute and when we were in first grade I sat out with her and played games and we had someone sit with us at lunch and I didn’t think it was odd and until last week I didn’t even know she had selective mutism I just thought she didn’t like talking because I just saw it from my view how she talked to me and I sat by her in class and when the teacher called on her she whispered to me the awnser and I said it to the teacher and I actually also had a tiny bit of selective mutism because of my anxiety
I was just like Catherine in school but instead of helping me, they tried to hold me back I had great grades but there excuse was they didn't know if I understood. I'm like my grades prove I do. I still struggle with it now I completely shut down in social situations with large numbers of people. I will speak to people on occasion but mostly I just stare at people until they go away😅
I think it was probably more because when young kids are in school they're expected to reach certain developmental milestones by a certain point. And being able to speak and communicate with others is one of those milestones. So a child with selective mutism is arguably struggling to get to that milestone, which for some schools is grounds for holding that child back.
@@jupitersnoot4915 unfortunately these teachers did not like me I was the only one they singled out, they would make me eat lunch in the class by myself while everyone went to the cafeteria, would make me sit in the dark class and would Rip up stuff I had done. Fortunately I only went there a year.
Me too! It didn’t happen for me until I was older but it feels so isolating. I even struggled with these issues into my young adult years which was really upsetting, until I finally got help for my anxiety. My only regret now is not having taken care of the problem sooner, but I always a kid who never wanted to have anything “wrong” with me. I did not like labels and just wanted to be the same as other kids. But now I’ve learned to just not care what others think and just live my life the ways that work best for me! 🥰
Katherine may have ADD like me and she’s over stimulated in settings like traditional school. Often young girls fall into a grey area that no one quite knows what to do with. Keeping up with a large crowd and a back to back schedule like that forces you to exude so much energy... sometimes all your energy. It’s a lot. Often it feels easier to be more quiet, observe and just get along. God bless her 💫
yes, she could be autistic or ADD/ADHD (or both). it is more common in neurodivergent people to shut down and this can mean going mute, usually because of sensory processing difficulties. or she could be socially overwhelmed, or both. v interesting
I thought that or anxiety my little girl has anxiety she's also very intelligent so she reacts differently than average children, we have a lot of struggles the main comment we get is wow Ellie is a genius you guys are so lucky if only they knew what we have to go through and her to go through at times
My son didn't speak his first year of preschool! The teacher called me to ask if he was hearing impaired or had any other problem. We explained that he talked at home, though he was shy around strangers. Today he is an articulate, intelligent, personable 36-year-old!
As a former teacher, the first thing I noticed about Adam was his funny gait. No one mentioned this at all during the video, yet I thought it was a big clue. He reminded me very much of one of my high-functioning autistic students who used to run and move awkwardly. It's really upsetting that it took so long for this family to get a diagnosis - not to mention how costly getting the diagnosis was. How many more children don't get a proper diagnosis because their parents don't or can't invest the time, energy, and costs into getting one?
This is so weird, I was selective mute at school until age 6, looking back the other children would say why don’t you just talk?! Just say something, and that made it worse and made me go into my shell more, especially because I knew if I did say something there would be a huge deal made about it. But eventually I did grow out of it. I’ve never seen or met anyone else with the same thing , especially as it was so long ago now. Very interesting!
Also, my family had to record me reading books at home, as they weren’t able to prove I could actually read so we would keep a record through filming me at home!
As an autistic female that also had selective mutism as a child. My parents saw nothing wrong lol I spoke to the people I needed to and that's it I spoke to like 1 other child who to this day is my best friend. I emulate others and that worked for me.
As an adult, I'm realizing that I had selective mutism as a child. It drove my teachers crazy that I wouldn't talk and they always said something was wrong with me. My peers weren't the nicest and picked on me for it. My parents were frustrated because I spoke all the time at home. Now I'm a teacher myself who deals with severe social anxiety, but I've learned to manage it. It makes me feel better knowing nothing was "wrong" with me. I had an absolute fear that wouldn't allow me to speak at school.
I suffered from selective mutism in the 70's and when I say suffered I mean suffered. Teachers screamed in my face, even though I was a very small child for my age and made excellent marks, they thought I should be bullied. I was told I was just stubborn. There were no special circumstances made for me or even a name to call my issue. I was literally frozen in fear all the time at school. Watching this video was very emotional for me even all these years later. I did eventually outgrow my selective mutism around age 9, but remained timid and fearful until about 15. I'm so glad children can get support and understanding now. I wouldn't want anyone to go through that, so alone and afraid, as I did.
I also suffered in the 60 s. Teachers made me sit in front of the class and screamed at me , when there was class parties I was sent in the hall , Kids were encouraged to make fun of me , my parents would tell the school how I would talk at home and how good I could read but they didn’t believe it they had my parents take me to a psychiatrist who said I should be put in an institution but they refused , the dr told me I was a baby cause only babies don’t speak and I should wear diapers and I would never have friends ,after a few sessions my parents stopped taking me , the principal would call me in his office and ask why I was so stubborn and didn’t talk , recess was a nightmare kids would chase me and take my stuff and no one did anything , I think they thought I would eventually tell them to stop ,I did make one friend from 4 to 6 th grade , she was nice to me and eventually I would whisper to her and then talk to her outside of school , I just couldn’t bring myself to speak all through elementary school , when I got to middle school at 13 I did start talking to a few kids and then answering teachers questions and I felt more comfortable but I was still considered shy , years later when I was in high school wr heard the phrase selective mutism and we figured out what I had , my son ended up having it also but then I knew what it was
@@nancydambrot5941 That's just awful. The adults were the cruel ones. They couldn't see past their own belief that it was a disciplinary problem. I'm sorry you went through that. Clearly the trauma of these childhood experiences are felt long into adulthood.
I relate so much to Katherine, I spent most of my years not talking and most of the teachers thought I had autism and I was tested a couple of times and they all came back clear and just left me the way I was but eventually when I started year 5 my confidence got a lot better and my teacher was amazing, she made me feel so comfortable and I was able to talk a bit more despite my shyness, I still am still quite shy but I am more open about my anxiety and what I enjoy doing
I was mute preschool - year 2. I then just talked when I needed too as it still gave me extreme anxiety. When I found someone I connected with I started getting in trouble for talking too much 😂 I'm now medicated for anxiety so I can be myself every where I go, it's an amazing feeling but I still feel anxious to an extent.
I had social anxiety most of my life. I never talked in school. My teacher asked my parents if anything was wrong at home. I’d take a zero grade if I had to do a group project or speak out loud, wouldn’t go to the bathroom or run in homework so nobody would look at me. Poor Katherine 😞
Catherine is like my little sister. My little sister has social anxiety. She is very talkative at home, she never talks around people (except family) and always shuts down whenever we are leaving the house.
People always talk about what it’s like to be a parent of a disabled child, but imagine BEING that child and knowing that you’re different from other kids but not understanding why
Why can't everyone just love everyone. Be kind to everyone. Maybe that person is having a bad day or whatever. Why can't we just have fun and make great memories. If someone doesn't like someone which is def fine, just don't hang out with that person. If u have to, just be nice n move the f on!!!!! That would be way too easy tho i guess..
In preschool, my sister was a selective mute. She would stay silent in the corner while the other kids played, talked, and laughed. She had always been talkative at home, so it was pretty out of the character for her. At the time I was in kindergarten and I would always get a ride to the daycare where she would talk to me in a very low wispier.
Maybe it could help you to know that I had selective mutism from age 4 - approximately 10. I could not speak with men except for my dad. Suddenly one day I turned to corner and spoke with my uncles like nothing had ever happened. Nothing what known about it back then (I'm 82 years old now so I am talking about 1945 - 1951.
I'm in year 8 since I started nursery I never talked in school I have selective mutism anxiety and autism and reading most comments there saying the used to get bullied I never got bullied for not talking people in school treats me the same as everyone else and doesn't Force me to talk and I do write on paper and stuff to communicate and stuff ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I’m almost 21 and I have selective mutism. One of my nieces too. I don’t get why humanity makes a big deal when a person doesn’t speak. I don’t get why some people try to make a person with selective mutism talk. I don’t get why some people treat it as a more “serious” problem.
I am in year 9 and when I started highschool I was an absolute nightmare I claimed words moved when i read and I was restless in class and hyper and I had really bad social anxiety with certain people and had sensory overload my teachers were concerned so they wrote to my parents and i got diagnosed pretty much immediately with dyslexia ADHD and ADD with mild dyscalculia and my teachers have supported me right from year seven to now and I will be forever grateful I understand people like me can be a bit of a handle but with the right support we will improve alot
23:18 I was always told that Selective Mutism was just a phase that I will eventually grow out of. Its been almost 18 years. This is the longest phase of my life😂
I'm a preschool teacher and I had a selective mute in my group last year. I worked with her for nine months and I built trust with her before attempting to get her to speak. I waited two months before I first asked her to speak to me. It took another month before she did. I started by allowing her to feel a small bit of anxiety before accepting none verbal communication which I increased over time. The first time she spoke to me I had to take her to a quiet place and close my eyes. After that I built on her speech daily and when she was comfortable in encouraged other people to join in. By the end of my time with her she was speaking with other people a little bit and I've heard that she speaks in school now.
I was mute until I turned four. I started to speak simple words like mama or train at three and a half. I started to fully talk at four and was a chatterbox, I can never stop talking!
When I saw this title, I knew exactly what this was. In elementary school, I had selective mutism! It’s very real! The reason I say “it’s very real” is because people used to tell me it wasn’t real. For instance, I was in a public place this one time-and my dad offered me $20 to simply whisper in his ear (where no one could hear me). But I just…. physically couldn’t. It’s such intense social anxiety…. to the point where you shut down! I got better, though! One time, I spoke in front of my entire third grade class, and my teacher was SO PROUD OF ME!
i have it as well also selective mutism sometimes can be a anxiety disorder also some kids may grow out of selective mutism although its not always possible but some kids may be stuck with it but all you need to do is give y.o a bit of time until he/she is comfortable :)
It seems like a lot of these comments are pretty dramatic, having nobody to talk to and being silent half the day at school is different from being selective muted.
The more you pressure the child, the worse the problem becomes. I think many are cases of what used to be called conversion disorder. Others seem to be on the autism spectrum. Sensory integration and anxiety issues seem to be in play as well. When there’s no pressure, some are entirely unremarkable. Nobody would notice anything unusual. I can relate to Katherine. I didn’t speak aloud at school unless absolutely required, and then I’d speak rapidly in a monotone. By the end of year three I began to outgrow it, first with peers, then with adults. At home, no problem. In 1963, people thought I was just a defiant child.
My child has selective mutism too he's 10 n has autism n severe learning difficulties but looking at him u would never know about the challenges he faces
I was like this in nursery so much so my teachers thought I had speech problems and they told my mum that she should take me to a speech therapist and when I had my first session I just kept on chatting to my therapist turns out I just spoke to people I felt were worthy enough of speaking to
I watched another show a few months ago, a young lad had problems speaking. He had a stutter, which I understand is different to Katherine. They helped him by giving him headphones & putting on some music that helps distract his brain & relax him. Doing a 1on1 with a teacher he’s comfy around. He’d then read from a piece of paper, slowly building it up. I’m not no doctor, don’t come at me. It could help her possibly? Thanks for reading!
0:15 “one in 10 children are struggling to fit in” Where’d they get those stats?! It’s gotta be at least 7 in 10 😂😭 I was expecting a 9 tbh Edit: Well I guess I’m thinking about bullying and feelings of exclusion, when here they mean disability. Because tbh even many “normal” kids get excluded because of how much they weigh or what things they like or how smart they are or, idk anything! Who really fits in these days? Idk 😞
I have Selective Mutism (I'm 15 and had it all my life) and it bugs me every night knowing I have it and I can't get rid of it as easy as people make it out to be.
I literally had the same problem for 12 years... I had selective mutism in elementary and high school. I was bullied for it and some days didn't speak a word :( When I came home and would speak to my dad, my throat would hurt from not using my voice all day. When I finally graduated and decided to take a few years off from college because of my social issues and anxiety. I started doing livestreams at home. This really helped me, because I felt comfortable enough at home to speak and also in front of the camera because I couldn't *see* any people. I practiced this for 2 years and slowly got rid of my social anxiety and selective mutism! In some situations it comes back a bit, but mostly it's cured :) So don't give up hope, it definitely can get better!
I used to have really bad anxiety in school and around people. I stuttered through the speaking/listening assessment parts of my English gcse and my teacher failed me😔
im glad katherine is improving and im also glad they were not forcing her to speak i hope she is still doing ok and im glad they seeked help rather than hoping it was just some phase and she would grow out of it
I feel sorry for all of these kids I have special needs and no what it’s like and I am not mute but I do struggle to ask for help and I do struggle in social situations! I hope these kids get the support they need ❤️💖
My bff in elementary school had selective mutism. I was the only person he would talk to. He was so amazing and sweet!
aww
Wow! Thanks so sweet
I was the same
My little sister did too, starting from age 4. The school didn’t believe she could talk until we showed them some home videos. They started to put her in a nurture room as she got older and still wasn’t talking. It was a quiet room full of books, toys, computers and more, with kids like herself. They actually all started talking to each other in little pairs and made it their little spot where they’d all take their lunch to the nurture room and hang out for the whole lunch, funnily enough🤣 they all progressed and branched out to make new friends and now that my sister is 11, it’s amazing to see how far she’s come. She went from not even talking to my grandma, auntie, uncle and cousins during visits, to starting her first day of year 7 all talkative and full of energy and having long phone calls with her friends on the phone. She now makes the most hilarious jokes at my grandma’s house and has the whole family laughing and it’s crazy to think that she never even spoke to them. She’s amazing. I love her so much
Same here
I wish we could get rid of the idea of a ‘perfect child’ no child is or will be perfect everyone has their own quirks and problems and they should still be accepted no matter the problem
You are so right. There is NO SUCH THING as a 'perfect child'
Yes!
exactlyno one or anything is perfect
I had to be a perfect kid in school 😐 and I a, the way I am because of that. I’m not like a bad person and rarely acted out in school because I had to be perfect
As a kid I agree! I'm tired of being compared to people like Cesar Millan(he's a dog trainer) or my cousin!
I remember being little and there was a girl in my gymnastics class with selective mutism. One day, our teacher said “If Daria speaks today, everyone gets ice cream!” ...It worked, she was so talkative and funny and we all got ice cream at the end. Her case was definitely less severe than Kathrine’s! I’m so happy that she’s improved so much by the end!
What if she didn't feel comfortable enough to? The whole class would have been mad at her for not getting ice cream. I mean its great that didn't happen tho
I have selective mutism and I do gymnastics Im 10 I'm scared to go to school I'm going to 5th grade
@@christopherhiggins3563 as long as you're happy... and if youre not do what makes you happy. :)
I had a child who was selectively mute in my class and another child could be hitting them take their toys from them and the child wouldn’t even cry. They wouldn’t peep. If it was safety I would have to step in, if it were toys at first I wouldn’t. I had to be this child’s voice and help them feel comfortable before they would even cry or ask for help.
H T I agree, looking back at it as an adult I don’t think it was the best or most mature way for the teacher to handle the situation (which wasn’t hers to handle)! Luckily it worked out but it easily could have gone another way
I’m selective mute. I get told off all the time. By everyone. Called rude. Disrespectful... like come on I can’t control it
My Journey With Meadow it’s different for everyone but they could be lying
My Journey With Meadow its different for everyone. how are you going to tell someone they're lying and roll eyes about it like you really know them. Maybe they just could be recording when it's not happening.
My Journey With Meadow your rude and probably a karen too.
My Journey With Meadow I'm not 12 but you are acting like a Karen telling someone they're lying you don't know them. You don't know everything about everyone's brain so just stop.
chyan or I’ll continue commenting on a public video, because I can 🤷🏽♀️
notice how kathrines friend was so supportive it was so cute
So cute. I feel bad for her 😢
Yeah it was so nice to see how supportive the other kids were, Henry's friends too stood by him.
Aww I wish that my friends were super supportive...instead of blocking me on FB.
@@AmandaConocido same :(
Ike I was like at less she has a friend
If you clicked on this video just because you want to know about the person that's in the title and thumbnail; the girl that you're looking for is Katherine, here are the time stamps for when she comes on:
11:05
22:37
37:38
UM THANKS
Tysm
THANK YOUUUU
I made it 100 thanks
You're the unsung hero
I like how the friends of the boy with tics is super supportive of him. They understand & know how to deal with him. That’s true friends.
I thought they were his brother because the way the talk about him. It’s heartwarming
That was so nice to see.
Did she seriously just say "I wish it had been a brain tumour because then they can just zap it out"? Wow
I think she just meant that somehing physical would be easier to deal with than mental. Which I think is a normal thing to think. It's much easier to deal with say, a broken arm, then say, depression or anxiety.
@@shevahauser1780 I have mental issues and it's very true what she said.
Sheva Hauser that’s right but, did she really had it to put it like that?? it’s so harsg
Yeah I was about to make a comment on that. It is very sad she said that
Sounds devastating but, I don’t think you’d understand unless you’re going through it.
I had a student like Katherine two years ago. At home she was a vibrant talkative child, but in the classroom and during small group she wouldn't say anything. Sometimes I would hear her from a distance whispering to another child, but the noise was so low you couldn't tell exactly what she was saying. The parents fought with me at first saying nothing was wrong with their child, but after months of fighting back I was able to get her the support she needed. Now she leads whole group lessons in a specialized classroom and is finally opening up!
God bless you for being such a good teacher.
How did you help her? I've a student with a quite similar situations as yours and finding it difficult to get her out of it. Thank you!
Amazing
U did the right thing helping ur student
@@heshanidelange8186 sorry for the late response! im horrible with youtube comments. I didn't necessarily get her out of her myself. i got her tested which she in turn qualified for SPED support. with that she was able to get goals which helped her open up. goals that were "in-line" with her educational needs like talking and verbal expression. she still whispers after two years later, but she now talks to adults.
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”
Very well said :)
Absolutely love this comment ❤
We need to stop normalizing what a “normal” child should be.
Fr
Amen
Shut up
I'm glad selective mutism is recognized and has therapies right now. When I was a child, 30 years ago, not even the psychologists knew about it. They were just saying that I was a bit shy and would grow out of it. Not true. My classmates were bullying me and adults never understood anything about me. I'm glad things changed so much since.
This was me all throughout childhood and as a result i was sent to special schools and classes. At one point called stubborn by a teacher and put in time outs. Very glad to know it is recognized today and there are other people out there who are the same. It is a struggle that is for sure.
Same here. I never got diagnosed with anything. My parents got told I would grow out of it. The teacher would stop the whole class lesson to demand that I speak and answer him. Classmates got so upset with me all the time.
Now I have two autistic kids. One severely
yep me too I was horrificly bullied about it throughout school
Me too ❤
As a person who has autism, in school (due to bullying) I was a selective mute as I didn't understand a lot of things in school, especially the social side of it, so staying quiet was the easiest option.
Same - autistic and still selective mute though not as bad as a kid, and also because of bullying. I found that if I kept my mouth shut people would forget I existed, but if I opened it anything I said would be turned into a weapon to hurt me. Silence was easier.
same here I am also special needs I have the signs of autism and got bullied all through primary school and high school
I’m autistic and was also selective mute during middle school. But I ended up talking to my teachers and friends at high school, which helped me. I was scared of being bullied, but I had friends and teachers that would help and protect me if that ever happened (which never did).
And whoever says teachers don’t do anything or don’t care, get a life. Not all teachers are like that. Learn what difference means
Adam has such a healing smile on his face, all the time. I cried with his mom, when he finally got an official diagnosis. Now they're going to be able to send him to a special needs school if need be, rather than fighting with the public schools.
When I was in the 5th grade we got a new girl in like January and her and I became instant friends. She has selective mutism and at first the only way we would communicate is through writing. I tried to help her talk in class and stuff, and overtime she began to whisper in my ear to talk to me. By the end of the year she sang along with the whole class at promotion. Sadly I lost touch with her :(
camryn keeney that is so sweet
No! You need to try finding her again! That would be an amazing reunion!
I hope you guys ended on good terms ❤❤
Psychiatrist: what makes you angry?
Child: ........people
Me: me too people, more and more. ( I'm 62 )
Kathi Dori ok?...
@@maryxvlone5003 ( Yes, I'm ok, I should accept people as they are ) . I'm sorry to show my disappointement, when those brave kids and parents in this video are struggling with so heavy conditions.
Kathi Dori ok
Your almost 70
Kxley ikr
I want to know if that little girl has been able to talk in her classroom yet!
Yeah I wonder the same thing. She was definitely making progress by the end of the documentary though. She was engaging in one-on-one play and communicating with that other little girl. But obviously shut down again when she was with the whole class. Guess it’s just something you have to take baby steps with, like anything.
yuki cross yes but they want her to improve
@yuki cross It's not so much about that...it's that she needs to be able to communicate in every day situations. Her education will suffer, she won't be able to communicate her needs or if she's hurt. I've known of kids who are selective mutes that literally will not tell anyone they are hurt. I know someone literally broke his arm and they only found out when he got home.
I’m selective mute. People try pressuring me into speaking with people. It ain’t very nice. Makes me not wanan talk to people and makes communication feel like a chore and set my anxiety off even more than it already is
Katherine can speak now I was in that class that she was in I am the browned hair girl with the fringe that was in front of her and was friends with her and also this was nearly 10 years ago that they filmed it
I'm 17 and still have SM ;^;
Using Zoom has actually made school so much easier, though. Since I can always just use the chat function, I don't feel out of place and I can actually express myself, especially since there's a private chat to message the teacher, and usually a public one for the whole class to see. Feels like I'm actually a part of the class for the first time in my life. Only good thing about 2020 haha.
So i don't have sm but this description perfectly what i felt like through the whole of school. I was just called shy and told to try and speak up in class more.
While I was watching I was wo during if zoom classes would be helpful. I'm glad it was helpful for you!
Online school was a lot better for some people. It's too bad it's not always an option.
I am 15 and the same way.
Yess, I'm 17 too. I always participated in zoom chats, finally got to live out the dream of answering a question I knew was right 😂 miss that
It's nice to see how accepting the other children are, the way the mute girl's class learned sign language, and her little friend was so kind. And Henry, all his friends stood by him and he's still able to participate in their hobbies.
My little sister has cerebral palsy and she's perfect to me I couldn't ask her to be anything better ♥️
Yes I agree
I grew up with a girl in my dance classes for 8 years that never spoke. She always seemed happy but just extremely shy to speak.
Then I found out that at home with her family she was loud and quite the chatterbox. I couldn't believe it! Now I understand she had Selective Mutism.
She was a very good dancer so she expressed herself that way I guess.
Not necessarily. I talked a lot at home but when I went to catechism I didn’t speak at all. I was just really shy. I was short and so I had someone pick me up and carry me down the stairs. I have no mutisms, just shy but as an adult I’ve grown to be more outspoken than shy. Not every person shy and quiet has mutisms or something wrong with them. They may just be shy around other people and then grow out of it in adulthood.
This was me in school. I was never social. I was scared to speak. I was scared to do anything...
Same, I know how you feel. ❤️❤️❤️
I hated school
Same
I hated school too, but I do love school. But I have some very (not all the time) naughty students in my classroom
So one time, some students (they also teens) gave unkind comments to another student (my other classmate)
I actually had to go to what they called pre first grade because I was so scared and shy in Kindergarten that they said I wasn't ready for first grade yet.
I’m not liking the title “my child’s not perfect” no child is perfect?!
Yep same
All people are unique. Perfection is just that you're astetically pleasing in a certain setting. Nobody can actually define if you are perfect or not. We are all unique and special. (I know I know, I went off a bit but I just want to say I agree with your comment.)
I am on the road to being perfect, I have 25 more pounds to lose!
@@gachadaisy no one is perfect but everyone is unique in there own way!
@@mya9797 I am losing weight I'm 10 and already dropped 3 pounds!
There is no such thing as normal, and also nobody cares who is first to comment or whatever
It is just a scence of success when you are first :)
Second to comment on your comment 🌚
Your right, some people might have asthma or something else that you don't even know. I have a disorder that doesn't allow my body to make certain hormones, but if you looked at me you'd just guess I'm short.
Yea frick normal weird is awesome 😎 I should know it’s my strong suit
You humans are so annoying ❤️🥰✨✨✨✨🥰❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🥰✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
Katherine is literally so cute she looks like a doll🥺
:)
@@katherinecresswell1500 WAIT IS THIS ACTUALLY YOU?!!??
@@katherinecresswell1500 how old Are you now?
@@----7758 turning 17 in 4 days
@@katherinecresswell1500 is this actually uu aww u were so cuteeee, hope u doing well
I was like this growing up. My teachers would constantly tell my parents that I hardly spoke up and was really quiet and they would never understand because they had such a talkative kid at home! It got better as I grew older, although I'm still struggling to speak in my college courses!
I was the same way. My parents were defensive about it so I never got any help or therapy. It took a lot of overcoming in my own head and I've accepted that I will always have to deal with it. I'm glad you're taking steps out of your comfort zone, you've got this!
Watching Katherine improve made me emotional because I was in the same situation as her! From the time I was 2 to 7, I struggled with selective mutism. It was one of the hardest things to deal with, but I eventually got on a medication for anxiety and it truly changed everything! I wish Katherine the best in her journey, I'm rooting for her!
Could I please ask which country you are from and what medicine it was?
Awww Adams mom! ❤️ Her having a diagnosis gives her hope and resources and experts and a community of people that truly understand.
I was selectively mute as a child, apparently all my parents said is that I was “shy”, if shyness is complete lack of emotion, not even a smile or a nod and definitely no words then sure. I don’t understand how they just ignored it. Turns out I’m autistic and struggled my entire life with it until I was diagnosed at 38 and started to accept myself.
*hugs* I’m sorry to hear that
i think this is very healing, makes me realise i wasn't the only child struggling. There will always be people who are a little different and need some extra support, and that's ok, we can't all be the same
When Katherine started crying, I actually started to develop teary eyes as I understand exactly what she's going through as I am also a selective on top of ADHD.😕
Kathrine really touched me. My best friend was selective mute and when we were in first grade I sat out with her and played games and we had someone sit with us at lunch and I didn’t think it was odd and until last week I didn’t even know she had selective mutism I just thought she didn’t like talking because I just saw it from my view how she talked to me and I sat by her in class and when the teacher called on her she whispered to me the awnser and I said it to the teacher and I actually also had a tiny bit of selective mutism because of my anxiety
Nobody’s child is perfect 😭😭
Periodt!!
besides karen’s sweet darling angel of course
I’m perfect tho
But my siblings (brother and sister) isn’t perfect. >:[
@@teppei2 Yes, Karen's sweet darling angel has and never will do anything wrong uwu
I was just like Catherine in school but instead of helping me, they tried to hold me back I had great grades but there excuse was they didn't know if I understood. I'm like my grades prove I do. I still struggle with it now I completely shut down in social situations with large numbers of people. I will speak to people on occasion but mostly I just stare at people until they go away😅
How did they not know you understood the work? As long as the work is written down then there's proof you understand
@@elliex4136 some schools are slow ☺
I think it was probably more because when young kids are in school they're expected to reach certain developmental milestones by a certain point. And being able to speak and communicate with others is one of those milestones. So a child with selective mutism is arguably struggling to get to that milestone, which for some schools is grounds for holding that child back.
@@elliex4136 my point exactly!
@@jupitersnoot4915 unfortunately these teachers did not like me I was the only one they singled out, they would make me eat lunch in the class by myself while everyone went to the cafeteria, would make me sit in the dark class and would Rip up stuff I had done. Fortunately I only went there a year.
My heart goes out to all the families. I love Henry, his mom, his family, and his friends really meeting this change with courage, grace, and love.
I did this at school when I first attended.
I was soo unhappy in a school environment.
I was like this growing up and still am to this day in social situations
Just to clarify I've been diagnosed with selective mutism
Me too! It didn’t happen for me until I was older but it feels so isolating. I even struggled with these issues into my young adult years which was really upsetting, until I finally got help for my anxiety.
My only regret now is not having taken care of the problem sooner, but I always a kid who never wanted to have anything “wrong” with me. I did not like labels and just wanted to be the same as other kids. But now I’ve learned to just not care what others think and just live my life the ways that work best for me! 🥰
Katherine may have ADD like me and she’s over stimulated in settings like traditional school. Often young girls fall into a grey area that no one quite knows what to do with. Keeping up with a large crowd and a back to back schedule like that forces you to exude so much energy... sometimes all your energy. It’s a lot. Often it feels easier to be more quiet, observe and just get along. God bless her 💫
yes, she could be autistic or ADD/ADHD (or both). it is more common in neurodivergent people to shut down and this can mean going mute, usually because of sensory processing difficulties. or she could be socially overwhelmed, or both. v interesting
I have to disagree. I think she has exactly what they say she has, selective mutism.
I thought that or anxiety my little girl has anxiety she's also very intelligent so she reacts differently than average children, we have a lot of struggles the main comment we get is wow Ellie is a genius you guys are so lucky if only they knew what we have to go through and her to go through at times
I noticed around 6:20 how he reacted to the dog he could benefit from a service dog to alert to anger and calm him down
Agreed. I feel so bad for Adam. Just seems like he's got it pretty rough.
I could see Adam benefiting from an assistance dog! Bless his ❤️
My son didn't speak his first year of preschool! The teacher called me to ask if he was hearing impaired or had any other problem. We explained that he talked at home, though he was shy around strangers. Today he is an articulate, intelligent, personable 36-year-old!
As a former teacher, the first thing I noticed about Adam was his funny gait. No one mentioned this at all during the video, yet I thought it was a big clue. He reminded me very much of one of my high-functioning autistic students who used to run and move awkwardly. It's really upsetting that it took so long for this family to get a diagnosis - not to mention how costly getting the diagnosis was. How many more children don't get a proper diagnosis because their parents don't or can't invest the time, energy, and costs into getting one?
Katherine is so freaking adorable. Bless her heart.
:)
This is so weird, I was selective mute at school until age 6, looking back the other children would say why don’t you just talk?! Just say something, and that made it worse and made me go into my shell more, especially because I knew if I did say something there would be a huge deal made about it. But eventually I did grow out of it. I’ve never seen or met anyone else with the same thing , especially as it was so long ago now. Very interesting!
Also, my family had to record me reading books at home, as they weren’t able to prove I could actually read so we would keep a record through filming me at home!
same but i think i was seven
Same goes for me.
Most of us with it have had comments like that, I thought it was only me that had this back when I was younger.
As an autistic female that also had selective mutism as a child. My parents saw nothing wrong lol I spoke to the people I needed to and that's it I spoke to like 1 other child who to this day is my best friend. I emulate others and that worked for me.
exact
As an adult, I'm realizing that I had selective mutism as a child. It drove my teachers crazy that I wouldn't talk and they always said something was wrong with me. My peers weren't the nicest and picked on me for it. My parents were frustrated because I spoke all the time at home. Now I'm a teacher myself who deals with severe social anxiety, but I've learned to manage it. It makes me feel better knowing nothing was "wrong" with me. I had an absolute fear that wouldn't allow me to speak at school.
Well done I’m proud of you for overcoming and managing it it takes a lot of bravery to do such a thing :)
Awww the first boy is so sweet when he says he loves his mum!
This is me when I was younger. I was just painfully shy
I knew a girl in kindergarten who had selective mutism and she had a twin who talked for her when they were together, but they seemed really nice
I really feel for parents who have these struggles with their children. It makes me happy when they get some answers. It must be such a relief.
For the boy with tics, he can use audible. It reads to you. So he could listen to his studies.
okay but kathrine is litterally adorable, shes so prettyyyy. and her friends are so supportive.
I suffered from selective mutism in the 70's and when I say suffered I mean suffered. Teachers screamed in my face, even though I was a very small child for my age and made excellent marks, they thought I should be bullied. I was told I was just stubborn. There were no special circumstances made for me or even a name to call my issue. I was literally frozen in fear all the time at school. Watching this video was very emotional for me even all these years later. I did eventually outgrow my selective mutism around age 9, but remained timid and fearful until about 15. I'm so glad children can get support and understanding now. I wouldn't want anyone to go through that, so alone and afraid, as I did.
I also suffered in the 60 s. Teachers made me sit in front of the class and screamed at me , when there was class parties I was sent in the hall , Kids were encouraged to make fun of me , my parents would tell the school how I would talk at home and how good I could read but they didn’t believe it they had my parents take me to a psychiatrist who said I should be put in an institution but they refused , the dr told me I was a baby cause only babies don’t speak and I should wear diapers and I would never have friends ,after a few sessions my parents stopped taking me , the principal would call me in his office and ask why I was so stubborn and didn’t talk , recess was a nightmare kids would chase me and take my stuff and no one did anything , I think they thought I would eventually tell them to stop ,I did make one friend from 4 to 6 th grade , she was nice to me and eventually I would whisper to her and then talk to her outside of school , I just couldn’t bring myself to speak all through elementary school , when I got to middle school at 13 I did start talking to a few kids and then answering teachers questions and I felt more comfortable but I was still considered shy , years later when I was in high school wr heard the phrase selective mutism and we figured out what I had , my son ended up having it also but then I knew what it was
@@nancydambrot5941 That's just awful. The adults were the cruel ones. They couldn't see past their own belief that it was a disciplinary problem. I'm sorry you went through that. Clearly the trauma of these childhood experiences are felt long into adulthood.
I can’t get enough of this show!
Uea
Yea
Sameee
I relate so much to Katherine, I spent most of my years not talking and most of the teachers thought I had autism and I was tested a couple of times and they all came back clear and just left me the way I was but eventually when I started year 5 my confidence got a lot better and my teacher was amazing, she made me feel so comfortable and I was able to talk a bit more despite my shyness, I still am still quite shy but I am more open about my anxiety and what I enjoy doing
I had social anxiety in school always quite until I got home and I had trouble holding a conversation
Same now....
I was mute preschool - year 2. I then just talked when I needed too as it still gave me extreme anxiety. When I found someone I connected with I started getting in trouble for talking too much 😂 I'm now medicated for anxiety so I can be myself every where I go, it's an amazing feeling but I still feel anxious to an extent.
"what makes me angry?"
"people."
mood tho
I had social anxiety most of my life. I never talked in school. My teacher asked my parents if anything was wrong at home. I’d take a zero grade if I had to do a group project or speak out loud, wouldn’t go to the bathroom or run in homework so nobody would look at me. Poor Katherine 😞
I'm like you right now ,I feel like dying
Catherine is like my little sister. My little sister has social anxiety. She is very talkative at home, she never talks around people (except family) and always shuts down whenever we are leaving the house.
No one is perfect, we can be who we want to be. Be yourself no one can ever change that from you!❤
the way the boys dog comforted him and showed so much love for him melted my heart!
Technically, they can’t give Henry an F on his exams because of his Tourette’s. He can’t help it 😔
People always talk about what it’s like to be a parent of a disabled child, but imagine BEING that child and knowing that you’re different from other kids but not understanding why
Why can't everyone just love everyone. Be kind to everyone. Maybe that person is having a bad day or whatever. Why can't we just have fun and make great memories. If someone doesn't like someone which is def fine, just don't hang out with that person. If u have to, just be nice n move the f on!!!!! That would be way too easy tho i guess..
In preschool, my sister was a selective mute. She would stay silent in the corner while the other kids played, talked, and laughed. She had always been talkative at home, so it was pretty out of the character for her. At the time I was in kindergarten and I would always get a ride to the daycare where she would talk to me in a very low wispier.
Maybe it could help you to know that I had selective mutism from age 4 - approximately 10. I could not speak with men except for my dad. Suddenly one day I turned to corner and spoke with my uncles like nothing had ever happened. Nothing what known about it back then (I'm 82 years old now so I am talking about 1945 - 1951.
I’ve been teaching elementary school for 17 years. I’ve known 2 students who never spoke. It’s rare, but real.
Also Kathrine’s friend, Emma, is so sweet and cute. Beautiful girls. 🥺❤️🌈🙏🏾
I'm in year 8 since I started nursery I never talked in school I have selective mutism anxiety and autism and reading most comments there saying the used to get bullied I never got bullied for not talking people in school treats me the same as everyone else and doesn't Force me to talk and I do write on paper and stuff to communicate and stuff ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I’m almost 21 and I have selective mutism. One of my nieces too. I don’t get why humanity makes a big deal when a person doesn’t speak. I don’t get why some people try to make a person with selective mutism talk. I don’t get why some people treat it as a more “serious” problem.
I suppose when they want to communicate and interact they feel lost.
I am in year 9 and when I started highschool I was an absolute nightmare I claimed words moved when i read and I was restless in class and hyper and I had really bad social anxiety with certain people and had sensory overload my teachers were concerned so they wrote to my parents and i got diagnosed pretty much immediately with dyslexia ADHD and ADD with mild dyscalculia and my teachers have supported me right from year seven to now and I will be forever grateful I understand people like me can be a bit of a handle but with the right support we will improve alot
23:18 I was always told that Selective Mutism was just a phase that I will eventually grow out of. Its been almost 18 years. This is the longest phase of my life😂
@Sunny Quackers Is he autistic?
@Sunny Quackers it's not a label, it's a diagnostic. Being autistic isn't an insult. Has he been followed by a psychologist at all?
Aww I love Catherine. She reminds me very much of my younger self when I suffered with selective mutism and social anxiety as a child.
I'm a preschool teacher and I had a selective mute in my group last year. I worked with her for nine months and I built trust with her before attempting to get her to speak. I waited two months before I first asked her to speak to me. It took another month before she did. I started by allowing her to feel a small bit of anxiety before accepting none verbal communication which I increased over time. The first time she spoke to me I had to take her to a quiet place and close my eyes. After that I built on her speech daily and when she was comfortable in encouraged other people to join in. By the end of my time with her she was speaking with other people a little bit and I've heard that she speaks in school now.
Thank you for being so consistent and suppotive for that child. I hope my 5 y.o. will meet someone like you to get over her selective mutism.
I was mute until I turned four. I started to speak simple words like mama or train at three and a half. I started to fully talk at four and was a chatterbox, I can never stop talking!
I know how this family feel my son is just like this he is worse with the agression and I have had to get him some extra help.😥
prayers are being sent your way. :)
Thank you so much!
When I saw this title, I knew exactly what this was. In elementary school, I had selective mutism! It’s very real! The reason I say “it’s very real” is because people used to tell me it wasn’t real. For instance, I was in a public place this one time-and my dad offered me $20 to simply whisper in his ear (where no one could hear me). But I just…. physically couldn’t. It’s such intense social anxiety…. to the point where you shut down!
I got better, though! One time, I spoke in front of my entire third grade class, and my teacher was SO PROUD OF ME!
I was like that in kindergarten I was mute my anxiety was bad
Mine was in preschool I was even too scared to put my hands up
My 5 y.o. is selective mute, such a torture and 0 help from the system, just going in circles, from doctor to a doctot
i have it as well also selective mutism sometimes can be a anxiety disorder also some kids may grow out of selective mutism although its not always possible but some kids may be stuck with it but all you need to do is give y.o a bit of time until he/she is comfortable :)
I love that Henry’s friends have stayed by his side and are supporting him. 💙
Beautiful people, kids and parents ❤
It seems like a lot of these comments are pretty dramatic, having nobody to talk to and being silent half the day at school is different from being selective muted.
Yesssss I'm so glad this series is back, I've been waiting since 2017!
This episode has already been uploaded on youtube
The more you pressure the child, the worse the problem becomes. I think many are cases of what used to be called conversion disorder. Others seem to be on the autism spectrum. Sensory integration and anxiety issues seem to be in play as well. When there’s no pressure, some are entirely unremarkable. Nobody would notice anything unusual.
I can relate to Katherine. I didn’t speak aloud at school unless absolutely required, and then I’d speak rapidly in a monotone. By the end of year three I began to outgrow it, first with peers, then with adults. At home, no problem. In 1963, people thought I was just a defiant child.
I am so happy that lady I was able to help her to talk with her best friend there in School thank you Lord
My child has selective mutism too he's 10 n has autism n severe learning difficulties but looking at him u would never know about the challenges he faces
I was like this in nursery so much so my teachers thought I had speech problems and they told my mum that she should take me to a speech therapist and when I had my first session I just kept on chatting to my therapist turns out I just spoke to people I felt were worthy enough of speaking to
That’s so ridiculously funny I love that
I watched another show a few months ago, a young lad had problems speaking. He had a stutter, which I understand is different to Katherine. They helped him by giving him headphones & putting on some music that helps distract his brain & relax him. Doing a 1on1 with a teacher he’s comfy around. He’d then read from a piece of paper, slowly building it up. I’m not no doctor, don’t come at me. It could help her possibly? Thanks for reading!
I know a little girl who is 7 and is SM she has been since her mum passed away when she was 2.5 😢
0:15 “one in 10 children are struggling to fit in”
Where’d they get those stats?! It’s gotta be at least 7 in 10 😂😭 I was expecting a 9 tbh
Edit: Well I guess I’m thinking about bullying and feelings of exclusion, when here they mean disability. Because tbh even many “normal” kids get excluded because of how much they weigh or what things they like or how smart they are or, idk anything! Who really fits in these days? Idk 😞
I have Selective Mutism (I'm 15 and had it all my life) and it bugs me every night knowing I have it and I can't get rid of it as easy as people make it out to be.
same im 13 this year i sturlein school tho :(
“10 year old Adam isn’t like other boys his age”
Neither am I.
Okay...?
edgy much???
cool, would you like a reward for that?
we get it your quirky
Um Okkk anyone else
I use to throw up every day before school as a young kid because of how much anxiety it gave me. I was put on Prozac at 6.
No child is perfect! NOONE IS PERFECT
I literally had the same problem for 12 years... I had selective mutism in elementary and high school. I was bullied for it and some days didn't speak a word :( When I came home and would speak to my dad, my throat would hurt from not using my voice all day. When I finally graduated and decided to take a few years off from college because of my social issues and anxiety. I started doing livestreams at home. This really helped me, because I felt comfortable enough at home to speak and also in front of the camera because I couldn't *see* any people. I practiced this for 2 years and slowly got rid of my social anxiety and selective mutism! In some situations it comes back a bit, but mostly it's cured :) So don't give up hope, it definitely can get better!
I used to have really bad anxiety in school and around people. I stuttered through the speaking/listening assessment parts of my English gcse and my teacher failed me😔
That’s horrible. I’m sorry this happened to you.
im glad katherine is improving and im also glad they were not forcing her to speak i hope she is still doing ok and im glad they seeked help rather than hoping it was just some phase and she would grow out of it
OMG! Katherine really thouched my heart! So heartbreaking 😢💔
:)
I feel sorry for all of these kids I have special needs and no what it’s like and I am not mute but I do struggle to ask for help and I do struggle in social situations! I hope these kids get the support they need ❤️💖