Dementia and Your Loved One
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Dementia and Your Loved One

I've been a caretaker of an elderly woman with dementia for over two years. I've seen the effects of this mental affliction, and how devastating it can be to loved ones. This is why I am a firm believer in seeking a professional diagnosis, so the patient may receive necessary care and treatment. Once diagnosed at the onset of symptoms, a plan can be devised. Through social interaction and daily care, my charge has achieved a higher quality of life. If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, you can make a difference. Love will find a way.

Dementia and Your Loved One

Selective Mutism: Symptoms And Treatment

Vickie Armstrong

Speech problems in children are not limited to issues such as delayed speech. Selective mutism is a condition that is not as well-known as other speech problems, but just as troublesome for your child. If you suspect your child has selective mutism, it is important you understand what it is and the possible treatments for the condition.

Selective Mutism 

Selective mutism is a childhood condition that results in the child only speaking in certain situations. For instance, your child might refuse to speak at school, but talk nonstop at home. The resistance to speaking is not just a one-time occurrence. If your child has the condition, he or she will consistently refuse to speak in certain situations.

Selective mutism is more than just shyness. It can cause lead to problems with learning and an inability to communicate with peers. The condition typically lasts longer than a month. 

Children who have selective mutism do not have a communication disorder that prevents them from speaking. In most instances, it is the result of an anxiety disorder. It is also a result of fear of being embarrassed and shyness. 

Treatment

The first step in treating selective mutism is to diagnose the condition. A speech-language pathologist (such as Felix M. DiPalma, M.S.) can work with the family and teachers to determine whether or not your child has the condition. Part of the diagnosis process is reviewing school records, talking to teachers, and hearing screening. 

Once the condition is diagnosed, the speech-language pathologist will develop a treatment plan. The treatment will focus on those issues that causes your child to remain silent in certain situations. For instance, if your child chooses to remain silent in school from a fear of being embarrassed, the pathologist will focus on overcoming that fear. 

One possible treatment the pathologist might use is to work with your child in a group with other children. By working with your child in small groups, the pathologist can help your child overcome the anxiety that he or she might experience when talking to others outside of his or her comfort zone. 

Part of the treatment could also include helping your child communicate using nonverbal methods. For instance, the use of signals could be encouraged. Over time, the pathologist will slowly start to replace some of those nonverbal methods with verbal communication until your child is comfortable speaking in any situation.

Early diagnosis and treatment of selective mutism is important. Without it, your child's grades and social communications could suffer.


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