Meet Olivia

Since Olivia was 5 years old, she was completely mute in almost all social settings outside of the home. After researching all available treatment options, Olivia’s family discovered the SMart Center and traveled from the U.K. for CommuniCamp™!

Since beginning treatment, Olivia began a new school and is now fully verbal in all settings! Now, she loves going to school and has a great group of friends that she loves to socialize with. Read more about how Olivia overcame SM below!

How old was your child when you first noticed he/she was mute in select settings?

4-5 years old.

Please briefly summarize where/when your child was mute/not mute.

She was completely mute in school settings and most social situations. It started slowly then got worse and worse. She would just freeze whenever there was an expectation to speak. Visiting Santa was always quite awkward. She would do her “clamped lips” face and just look blank when he asked her questions.

What brought you to seek treatment at the SMart Center?

I researched all available treatments and decided that CommuniCamp™ was worth a shot. I honestly thought that she was going to be mute for her entire school career.

What SMart Center services did you use?

  • CommuniCamp™ Intensive Group Treatment & Parent Training Program

How often do/did you consult with the SMart Center?

Once.

What changes have you noticed?

She changed schools and her new school bent over backwards to help. Once she started talking, she just went from strength to strength. She is noisy, giggly, cheeky, and relaxed! She has proper friends for the first time and loves to socialize, instead of hiding away and being unable to take part.

What S-CAT® strategies helped the most?

Removing the pressure to talk and respond, getting the school on board and asking the teachers to implement all of the strategies taught by Jennifer Brittingham, and lower the pressure in all settings.

Do you have any “key” advice for parents going through it now?

I would say keep trying; it might be a long road but, in our case, once the switch has been flipped, the progress is exponential. I saw a change in her facial expression within 10 minutes at her new school and it was as if her shackles just fell away. It is a burden to our kids too and, although they hide behind it sometimes, I felt that she was as relieved as I was to be free of it.

Don’t be afraid to make big changes, it might allow your child to reinvent themself. We have been invited back to parties by one or two of her old school friends and she goes straight back to being mute and inhibited. I have just started to politely decline invitations to meet up with them. We don’t need to put her back into any situations that make her feel uneasy. Oh, and get a dog! Olivia developed another level of confidence when we bought a puppy. He is her best friend, and so much communication happens around him.

What are your overall thoughts on treatment and overcoming Selective Mutism with the SMart Center?

It has been a rollercoaster. Every day my heart would break when I took her to school. Now, she goes in happily. Getting her to stop running around with her friends after school and get into the car is now my biggest challenge! My heart is lighter and I can’t thank everyone at SMart Center enough!