Big Milestone for Payton!

I have the bravest, smartest little girl ever! Payton had more Kindergarden testing on the 17th and this time her teacher insisted that she would be at the table as I read the questions. Payton wasn't big on that idea and instantly went into shut down mode. We tried turning her chair slightly so she wasn't looking at her teacher etc and it didn't work she started crying and getting upset. Her teacher went in the hall for a sec so Payton could collect herself and I could talk to her. Payton asked if Mrs S could "turn her ears off." I went in the hall and asked her to "turn off her ears" and she agreed. Payton sat in my lap as Mrs S read her the questions and trembling, Payton squeeked out the answers. I was so proud of her! She was so brave to let Mrs S hear her voice because this is such a huge thing for a child with Selective Mutism! It was so hard for me as a parent to see Payton stressed like that though but I know its important for them to see her progress too. I'm proud to say Payton only missed 1 question! She didn't answer her birthday but it wasn't because she didn't know it, it was because it was the first question and she was so nervous she couldn't get her words. Mrs S was so proud of her too that she let her have a piece of candy, a sticker and treasure box! Payton is wearing her sunglasses she picked proudly because she knows what a good job she did! The next round of testing her teacher wants her to do it w/o me being there but I don't think she will be ready by then to do it by herself. Today was progress! She overcame her fear and was able to make her voice in front of her teacher a HUGE milestone for a SM kid!!! Yeah Payton!

Official Diagnosis

Payton had her appointment with Childrens the day after Thanksgiving and we have her official diagnosis. After reading through about 20 pages of questions her Dr said it was one of the easiest diagnosis' she has ever made! Payton has Selective Mutism, Obsessive Cumpulsive Disorder and Sensory Integration Dysfunction. The second two are pretty common for Selective Mutes to also have. Its been just over a month and I am still waiting to hear back from their office. They are trying to get Payton into a therapist closer to home because I'm not big on the idea of driving down town and they don't want to start her with one therapist and then switch her. I'm going to call the one closer to home and see what the hold up is early next week because I really want her to get started before next school year! I got the books I ordered and they werent at all what I thought they would be. There was some communication issues with the company I ordered from so they gave me a credit for a free book. I'm going to get that ordered too but in the meantime I passed the other books onto her teacher. Not much has changed on the school front. Payton continues to comminicate non-verbally and was very excited to be the person who got to point out the words as the class read them a few weeks ago. I'll post as we have more updates! If you're reading please leave me a comment! I'd love to hear from other parents of SM kids!