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Selective Mutism Information & Research Association

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Recommended Reading

If you purchase from Amazon via the links on this page, SMIRA may receive a percentage of the sale price on qualifying items.

The Selective Mutism Resource Manual (Second Edition)

Maggie Johnson & Alison Wintgens, 2016
Speechmark Publishing Ltd

Considered to be the UK’s No.1. treatment manual for selective mutism. Note: This is the second edition published in 2016.

‘This unique manual has been authored by two speech and language therapists working in two different services: child and adolescent mental health and community health, and comes out of their experiences of advising parents and professional colleagues. Selective Mutism emphasises practical assessment and treatment, advice and information, filling a significant gap in the availability of suitable resources in this field.’

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Can I Tell You About Selective Mutism?

Maggie Johnson & Alison Wintgens, 2012
Jessica Kingsley Publications

A great inexpensive ‘starter’ book for anyone new to selective mutism. Royalties to SMIRA.

Meet Hannah – a young girl with Selective Mutism (SM). Hannah invites readers to learn about Selective Mutism from her perspective, helping them to understand what it is, what it feels like to have SM, and how they can help. This illustrated book is packed with accessible information to help family, friends and teachers support a child with the condition and is also a great place to start when encouraging children with SM to talk about how it affects them.

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Tackling Selective Mutism

Edited by Benita Rae Smith and Alice Sluckin, 2015
Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Bringing together the latest research and understanding on selective mutism, this edited book gives essential information on the various treatment and therapy options. Experts in the fields of speech therapy, psychology, music therapy and education and communication specialists offer a wide range of professional perspectives on the condition. The book also clarifies what support a person with selective mutism is likely to need at home, school and in social situations. Key reading for professionals such as speech and language therapists and those working with selective mutism in therapeutic and educational settings, as well as family members wanting to learn how they can help.

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Can't Talk Want to Talk book cover

Can’t Talk? Want to Talk!

Jo Levett & Stephen Street, 2014
Routledge

When outgoing Lily meets a little girl who is too afraid to talk in school or other places outside of her home, she befriends the silent girl, their friendship grows, and the silent girl feels comfortable enough to talk to her new friend. This beautifully illustrated story book is for children with selective mutism to see that they can make a friend like Lily. It is also a helpful tool for parents, friends and teachers of children with selective mutism to understand why these children are unable to talk in certain settings, and to explore some strategies that may help reduce their anxiety around speaking. Jo studied for a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Sciences and qualified as a Speech and Language Therapist at University College London in 2006. Since then she has worked with children in a range of home, clinic and educational settings and currently combines NHS and independent work.

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Silent Children book & DVD cover

Silent Children – approaches to Selective Mutism

Rosemary Sage & Alice Sluckin, 2004 (Limited stock)
Book £10.00
To purchase or for further information, please:

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Selective Mutism: An Assessment and Intervention Guide for Therapists, Educators and Parents

Aimee Kotrba, 2014
PESI Publishing & Media

Selective Mutism: A Guide for Therapists, Educators, and Parents provides an effective, research-based behavioral intervention plan for the successful treatment of Selective Mutism. This book provides intervention strategies for all team members, as well as a comprehensive treatment plan that can be individualized to any child. The techniques included emphasize a gradual, stepwise approach to increased speech, as well as fun and engaging activities that can be used at each step of treatment.

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Helping Your Child with Selective Mutism: Practical Steps to Overcome a Fear of Speaking

Angela E. McHolm, Charles E. Cunningham & Melanie K. Vanier, 2005
Newharbingerpublications, inc.

This book offers a broad overview of the condition and reviews the diagnostic criteria for the disorder. The book details a plan you can use to coordinate professional treatment of your child’s disorder. It also explains the steps you can take on your own to encourage your child to speak comfortably in school and in his or her peer group. All of the book’s strategies employ a gradual, ‘stepladder’ approach. The techniques gently encourage children to speak more, while at the same time helping them feel safe and supported.

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The Selective Mutism Treatment Guide: Manuals for Parents, Teachers, and Therapists: Still Waters Run Deep

Ruth Perednik, 2012
Jerusalem. Oaklands

This guide is aimed at professionals and lay people alike: For parents and relatives of children with SM it offers a valuable resource to understand the condition, with programs and tools to help the child at home and at school in order to improve his verbal and social communication. For mental health and school based professionals it provides a guide which enables the reader to understand and treat the disorder, working closely with the school and the parents.

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Supporting Quiet Children:

Exciting Ideas & Activities to Help ‘Reluctant Talkers’ Become ‘Confident Talkers’

Maggie Johnson & Michael Jones, 2012
Lawrence Educational

With a detailed introduction explaining reasons behind shyness and reluctance to talk in early years settings, this 52 page A4 book offers 40 tried and tested activities to boost social skills and confidence in sensitive or shy children who have extreme anxiety about talking. Help children to find their voice in a fun and exciting way.

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Selective Mutism in Our Own Words: Experiences in Childhood and Adulthood

by Carl Sutton and Cheryl Forrester
Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Paperback: Publication Date – 21.12.15

An eye-opening and enlightening collection of stories from people living with Selective Mutism (SM), this book provides a much-needed platform for people with SM to share experiences of the condition in their own words. Exploring all aspects of SM, from symptoms and diagnostic criteria, to triggers and the consequences of being psychologically unable to speak, the stories in this book dispel the myths around this often misunderstood condition. Far from refusing to talk, or choosing not to, the contributors offer genuine insights into why they simply cannot speak in share experiences of feeling isolated, struggling at school, and finding ways to communicate. Letting people with SM know that they are not alone with the condition, the book will also help family, friends and professionals to understand what it is like to live with SM.

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Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-By-Step Guide for Parents

Ronald M. Rapee

This expanded and updated version of a best-selling classic guides readers to help a child overcome anxiety and fears. It describes in detail strategies and techniques they can combine into a comprehensive self-help programme for a child’s particular needs. From separation anxiety to general anxiety, social anxiety, specific phobia and panic disorder, the book describes the common types of childhood anxiety, how anxiety originates, and options for dealing with the problem, with or without a therapist’s help.

In this updated version, the progression of chapters reflects the authors’ clinical programme, in which major skills are introduced early and then are consolidated and built upon in later chapters. Throughout, the book employs a step-by-step approach that is both structured and directive. Written activities are incorporated throughout the chapters, some intended for the child and others for his or her parent to complete.

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Maya’s Voice

by Wen-Wen Cheng

Maya is a bright-eyed, inquisitive little girl who loves to share her sweet voice. But when she starts school, she loses the confidence to use her voice and goes about her school day in silence. With time, patience, understanding, and love from all those around her, Maya discovers her sweet voice.

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My Friend Daniel Doesn’t Talk

by Sharon Longo

When outgoing Ryan meets Daniel, a boy who is too afraid to talk in school or other places outside of his home, he befriends the silent boy, defending him in school to the other children. Their friendship grows, and Daniel feels comfortable enough to talk to his new friend. Ryan’s tendency to ‘talk too much’ enables him to help Daniel in the classroom, and he hopes for the day when his friend will be able to talk in school so that the other children may get to know the ‘real’ Daniel. In the meantime, he is willing to continue to be a friend to Daniel until that day.

This beautifully illustrated story book is for children with severe shyness, social anxiety or selective mutism to see that they can make a friend like Ryan. It is also a helpful tool for friends of children like Daniel to understand why these children are unable to talk in certain settings.The theme – of accepting others who are different while trying to emphasise with them – is a universal one, and therefore this book may be enjoyed by all children aged from 4 to 8. While the story should not be read to the class while the child is present or without his or her permission, this book is an invaluable tool for teachers trying to understand selective mutism, and wanting to explain it to their students.

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The Loudest Roar book cover

The Loudest Roar

by Clair Maskell, 2017
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Angus has a fantastic roar. It is so loud, it gives his Dad a headache! But his roar doesn’t always work, leaving Angus feeling sad, angry and alone. This book describes what it can be feel like to have Selective Mutism and how even though you cannot express things in words, you can still do amazing things.

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Lola's Words Disappeared book cover

Lola’s Words Disappeared

by Elaheh Bos, 2013
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

As Lola starts school, something strange happens. Her words disappear! Now Lola must find new ways to give her words the courage to come back. A fun and practical introduction to different techniques of anxiety management, specifically used for children with selective mutism. Most effective when followed up with the activity book. This series explores six anxiety reduction and management techniques. The book was created in collaboration with Dr. Tamara Soles, Psychologist specializing in early childhood.

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Lola’s Words Disappeared and Came Back

An accompanying activity book by the same author.
This activity book and journal takes learning into the practical phase by providing questions that generate personal awareness. It reinforces key tools and techniques, and allows Lola’s journey to be a conduit for personal growth.

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Fiona Says

By Diana Hendry

These two delightful stories tell of how Fiona, indoors a real chatterbox, makes a friend, finds her tongue and is able to talk outside the home. The second tale concerns one day when everything starts to talk to her, even her satchel!

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Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears

by Emily Gravett

Young children will identify with the little mouse who uses the pages of this book to document his fears – from loud noises and the dark, to being sucked down the plughole. Packed with details and novelty elements including flaps, die-cuts and even a hilarious fold-out map, this is an extraordinary picture book. A useful introduction for talking to young children about their own anxieties.

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What to do when you worry too much: A kid’s guide to overcoming anxiety (‘What to do’ guides for kids)

by Dawn Huebner

What to Do When You Worry Too Much is an interactive self-help book designed to guide 6-12 year olds and their parents through the cognitive-behavioral techniques most often used in the treatment of generalized anxiety. Engaging, encouraging, and easy to follow, this book educates, motivates, and empowers children to work towards change. It includes a note to parents by psychologist and author Dawn Huebner, PhD.

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The Huge Bag of Worries

Wherever Jenny goes, her worries follow her – in a big blue bag. They are there when she goes swimming, when she is watching TV, and even when she is in the lavatory. Jenny decides they will have to go. But who can help her?

The Huge Bag of Worries was written by Virginia Ironside, one of Britain’s leading agony aunts, and has sold 140k copies to date.

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