{"id":119326,"date":"2024-10-28T13:38:48","date_gmt":"2024-10-28T06:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=119326"},"modified":"2024-10-28T13:38:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T06:38:48","slug":"i-struggle-to-talk-but-dream-of-being-on-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=119326","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;I struggle to talk but dream of being on stage&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"\">\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 ejjhCR\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/2071\/live\/1ae2dd50-913e-11ef-b8b4-3587d39b434a.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/2071\/live\/1ae2dd50-913e-11ef-b8b4-3587d39b434a.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/2071\/live\/1ae2dd50-913e-11ef-b8b4-3587d39b434a.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/2071\/live\/1ae2dd50-913e-11ef-b8b4-3587d39b434a.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/2071\/live\/1ae2dd50-913e-11ef-b8b4-3587d39b434a.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/2071\/live\/1ae2dd50-913e-11ef-b8b4-3587d39b434a.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/2071\/live\/1ae2dd50-913e-11ef-b8b4-3587d39b434a.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/2071\/live\/1ae2dd50-913e-11ef-b8b4-3587d39b434a.jpg.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"BBC A teenage girl with blonde hair and brown eye looks directly into the camera smiling, the background is out of focus and grey.\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\"\/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 fxQYxK\">BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-8353772e-0 cvNhQw\">Scarlett first showed signs of selective mutism at the age of five, and was diagnosed three years later<!-- --><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">A 15-year-old girl with a condition that makes it hard to talk says she wants to fulfil her dream of performing on stage. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Scarlett, from Flintshire, has selective mutism, a severe anxiety disorder that leaves people unable to speak in certain situations and left her off school for two years. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Along with Lucia, 17, from Swansea, she said a lack of awareness and understanding about the condition could make things worse.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">About one in 140 young people are affected, according to NHS estimates.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-8353772e-0 cvNhQw\">&#8216;Selective mutism makes me feel invisible&#8217;<!-- --><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The NHS says that a child or adult with selective mutism &#8220;does not refuse or choose not to speak at certain times, <!-- --><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/mental-health\/conditions\/selective-mutism\/\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\" rel=\"noopener\">they&#8217;re literally unable to speak<!-- --><\/a>&#8220;.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;The expectation to talk to certain people triggers a freeze response with feelings of anxiety and panic, and talking is impossible.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Scarlett describes herself as &#8220;really chatty&#8221; and someone who loves musical theatre, but she can feel overwhelmed with anxiety around other children in school. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;I\u2019m just constantly thinking &#8216;what is that person thinking about me?&#8217; And then you\u2019re like &#8216;I\u2019m just not going to say anything&#8217;,&#8221; she said. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;I think it\u2019s your mind telling you &#8216;no, don\u2019t say that&#8217;.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">At the age of 13, she stopped going to school and did not go back for almost two years.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;Not many people know about it, you can feel quite lonely and isolated most of the time,&#8221; she said.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/4921\/live\/a23e5840-92b7-11ef-ad0d-97efa3948541.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/4921\/live\/a23e5840-92b7-11ef-ad0d-97efa3948541.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4921\/live\/a23e5840-92b7-11ef-ad0d-97efa3948541.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/4921\/live\/a23e5840-92b7-11ef-ad0d-97efa3948541.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/4921\/live\/a23e5840-92b7-11ef-ad0d-97efa3948541.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/4921\/live\/a23e5840-92b7-11ef-ad0d-97efa3948541.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/4921\/live\/a23e5840-92b7-11ef-ad0d-97efa3948541.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/4921\/live\/a23e5840-92b7-11ef-ad0d-97efa3948541.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A teenage girl with long blonde hair stands between her mum and dad seated at the kitchen table. All three smile and look towards the camera.\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-8353772e-0 cvNhQw\">Scarlett&#8217;s parents say they have seen a lack of understanding of the condition, even from psychologists<!-- --><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Scarlett was diagnosed with selective mutism at the age of eight, although her parents, Steve and Emma, believe she started showing signs as young as five.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;It\u2019s been a really long time of struggles and appointments, referrals and just not being settled really, and not being very happy in that time either,&#8221; said Emma.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The couple described visiting a wide range of professionals, from psychologists to hypnotherapists, with no results.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;I spoke to somebody once that they&#8217;ve been in the profession as a psychologist for 25 years, and they said I probably knew more than they did, so that was a bit of a worry,&#8221; Emma added.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 kRvAla\">What is selective mutism?<!-- --><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/111.wales.nhs.uk\/Selectivemutism\/\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 bZUiKB\" rel=\"noopener\">Selective mutism<!-- --><\/a> can start at any age but most often begins in early childhood between the ages of two and four.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The main sign is a marked contrast in the child&#8217;s ability to engage with different people, a sudden stillness or frozen facial expression when talking to someone outside their comfort zone.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Experts regard selective mutism as a fear or phobia of talking to certain people, the cause is not always clear, but is associated with anxiety.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">A child can successfully overcome selective mutism if it is diagnosed at an early age and appropriately managed.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Scarlett\u2019s dad Steve said it could be difficult to deal with the lack of understanding from others.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;She is very talkative, outgoing, very social, and she wants to do what every other boy and girl her age is doing: basically, going to the shops, going to the cinema.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;The selective mutism, over the years, has stopped that,&#8221; he added.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 jFCfG\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 cOpVbP hide-when-no-script\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/5582\/live\/3f9bf1d0-913a-11ef-b895-6500dd394f0b.jpg.webp 240w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/5582\/live\/3f9bf1d0-913a-11ef-b895-6500dd394f0b.jpg.webp 320w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/5582\/live\/3f9bf1d0-913a-11ef-b895-6500dd394f0b.jpg.webp 480w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/640\/cpsprodpb\/5582\/live\/3f9bf1d0-913a-11ef-b895-6500dd394f0b.jpg.webp 640w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/5582\/live\/3f9bf1d0-913a-11ef-b895-6500dd394f0b.jpg.webp 800w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/5582\/live\/3f9bf1d0-913a-11ef-b895-6500dd394f0b.jpg.webp 1024w,https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1536\/cpsprodpb\/5582\/live\/3f9bf1d0-913a-11ef-b895-6500dd394f0b.jpg.webp 1536w\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/5582\/live\/3f9bf1d0-913a-11ef-b895-6500dd394f0b.jpg.webp\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A young woman with dark hair in a ponytail, and an eyebrow piercing, wearing a light grey hoodie smiles while looking directly at the camera\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><figcaption class=\"sc-8353772e-0 cvNhQw\">Lucia says she feels stuck unable to move on while her friends head to college<!-- --><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">For Lucia from Swansea, selective mutism is also a barrier to her going to school, college or getting a job. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;It&#8217;s really hard, because it feels like everyone else is moving on with their lives, and I&#8217;m just stuck doing nothing,&#8221; she said.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The 17-year-old said she had whole conversations planned in her head, but her voice completely disappears.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;It is like I just stand with my mouth open, and all I really want to do is just cry, because I&#8217;d love to have normal conversations with people, but the words just will not come out,&#8221; she added.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">She has tried numerous therapies but, with limited results, she is worried about her future.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;It&#8217;s been really hard &#8211; because people don&#8217;t know about it, they don&#8217;t know how to help,&#8221; she added.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Anita McKiernan, a specialised speech and language therapist, said there had been poor awareness and understanding of the condition for decades.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">She said more research and more specialist therapists meant things had &#8220;significantly improved&#8221; over the past five years, albeit from a &#8220;low base&#8221;.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">Ms McKiernan, an adviser to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in selective mutism, added the condition, while thought of as rare, was relatively common, especially in pre-school children.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;The entire early years in school workforce also need to be trained in how to identify and effectively manage selective mutism because they&#8217;re on the front line of picking it up, and the delays tend to occur because staff may be thinking that the child will grow out if it,&#8221; she said.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">The Welsh government said: &#8220;Practitioners need to be upskilled to support children and young people with speech, language and communication needs and our Talk with Me delivery plan aims to achieve this.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe\">&#8220;We are also developing resources aimed at parents and teaching staff to provide universal and targeted support for children with selective mutism.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cj0j8qydl70o\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BBC Scarlett first showed signs of selective mutism at the age of five, and was diagnosed three years later A 15-year-old girl with a condition that makes it hard to &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=119326\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-119326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=119326"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119326\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=119326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=119326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=119326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}