| The Association of Chief Psychologists with Ontario School Boards |
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The Silence Within is a single case study based on the experiences of an elementary school reading specialist working with a selectively mute primary school student. While not a scholarly work, it is nonetheless an interesting chronology of the trial and error approach the author used to assist the student in speaking aloud, using a hierarchy of feared situations. The example is a U.S. one, and so some of the education terminology differs from that in Ontario. The emphasis on standardized academic achievement tests is pronounced. The author's "research" was based largely on Internet articles. She refers to selective mutism as a "speaking disability" rather than more correctly as an anxiety disorder, thereby suggesting a somewhat superficial understanding of the complexities of this condition. Her work clearly demonstrates that progress with selectively mute children is slow and gradual. Most of the book is the set of daily goal sheets established for the child; unfortunately, the reader must extract the key elements contained in those goals. There are a number of useful resources at the end of the book, including recommended books, software, songs, board games, and internet sites.
Dr. Ian Brown, Co-ordinator of Psychological Services, Durham Catholic District School Board
www.acposb.on.ca