Maggie Johnson is a speech and language therapist and educational consultant specialising in childhood communication disorders and selective mutism. With thirty years' experience in education and community settings, Maggie works closely with families and schools in East Kent and provides training and workshops for schools, parents and health professionals across the UK and abroad. She lives in Ramsgate, UK. Alison Wintgens was a consultant speech and language therapist in child and adolescent mental health based at St George's Hospital until her retirement in July 2011. She has worked for over 20 years with children who have selective mutism and lives in London. Now she continues to write and teach, and is the advisor on selective mutism to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Maggie and Alison have both published extensively in the field of speech and language therapy and are advisors to the Selective Mutism Information and Research Association. Robyn Gallow's illustrations have been used in a number of educational titles. She lives in London, and is involved in both fashion and illustrating.

I wish I'd had this book when I first started out in teaching and I definitely would want to put a copy into the hands of every member of the support staff in any school.

• Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. Introducing Hannah who has Selective Mutism. 2. Tension, panic and phobia. 3. Speaking freely at home. 4. It's not refusal to speak. 5. Playing with other children. 6. Talking in the classroom. 7. Feeling stressed and frustrated. 8. Speaking with the wider family. 9. Associated fears or phobias. 11. Telling the class about Selective Mutism. 12. How other children can help. 13. How teachers can help. 14. How parents can help. Recommended reading, DVDs, websites and organisations.

Maggie Johnson is a speech and language therapist and educational consultant specialising in childhood communication disorders and selective mutism. With thirty years' experience in education and community settings, Maggie works closely with families and schools in East Kent and provides training and workshops for schools, parents and health professionals across the UK and abroad. She lives in Ramsgate, UK. Alison Wintgens was a consultant speech and language therapist in child and adolescent mental health based at St George's Hospital until her retirement in July 2011. She has worked for over 20 years with children who have selective mutism and lives in London. Now she continues to write and teach, and is the advisor on selective mutism to the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Maggie and Alison have both published extensively in the field of speech and language therapy and are advisors to the Selective Mutism Information and Research Association. Robyn Gallow's illustrations have been used in a number of educational titles. She lives in London, and is involved in both fashion and illustrating.

I wish I'd had this book when I first started out in teaching and I definitely would want to put a copy into the hands of every member of the support staff in any school.

• Acknowledgements. Introduction. 1. Introducing Hannah who has Selective Mutism. 2. Tension, panic and phobia. 3. Speaking freely at home. 4. It's not refusal to speak. 5. Playing with other children. 6. Talking in the classroom. 7. Feeling stressed and frustrated. 8. Speaking with the wider family. 9. Associated fears or phobias. 11. Telling the class about Selective Mutism. 12. How other children can help. 13. How teachers can help. 14. How parents can help. Recommended reading, DVDs, websites and organisations.