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How giraffes helped Poppy Campbell find her voice | How giraffes helped Poppy Campbell find her voice |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A girl who barely said a word for the first four years of her life is now a "little chatterbox". | A girl who barely said a word for the first four years of her life is now a "little chatterbox". |
Poppy Campbell, six, from Inverness, was silenced by a combination of selective mutism and speech dyspraxia. | Poppy Campbell, six, from Inverness, was silenced by a combination of selective mutism and speech dyspraxia. |
She said her first sentence when she was three-and-a-half when she thanked staff at a safari park for letting her help look after their giraffes. | She said her first sentence when she was three-and-a-half when she thanked staff at a safari park for letting her help look after their giraffes. |
Her parents Sarah and Steven said that thanks to help she went on to receive she now talks happily. | Her parents Sarah and Steven said that thanks to help she went on to receive she now talks happily. |
Poppy's mum told BBC Radio Scotland's The Kaye Adams Programme: "Just before she was 18 months old she just fell into complete silence. | Poppy's mum told BBC Radio Scotland's The Kaye Adams Programme: "Just before she was 18 months old she just fell into complete silence. |
"Even when she was crying she would make the face, and have tears but made no sound at all. It was so difficult." | |
She added: "It sounds strange, but we had this sixth sense. Poppy would look at us and we knew what she wanted or needed." | |
'Bella's my favourite' | 'Bella's my favourite' |
Initially, the family were told Poppy had "second child syndrome", meaning she did not feel the need to talk because her older sister Summer did all the talking for her. | Initially, the family were told Poppy had "second child syndrome", meaning she did not feel the need to talk because her older sister Summer did all the talking for her. |
But her parents remained concerned there was something wrong, going to first one speech therapist and then a second therapist. | But her parents remained concerned there was something wrong, going to first one speech therapist and then a second therapist. |
Still, it took an encounter with giraffes at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park, near Stirling, for Poppy to first find her voice. | Still, it took an encounter with giraffes at Blair Drummond Safari and Adventure Park, near Stirling, for Poppy to first find her voice. |
Her mum said: "After our visit we were leaving the park and Poppy said to the staff: 'Thank you very much for letting me look after the giraffes. Bella's my favourite." | Her mum said: "After our visit we were leaving the park and Poppy said to the staff: 'Thank you very much for letting me look after the giraffes. Bella's my favourite." |
Poppy fell silent again for just under a year, before one night saying to her mum: "Mummy, I love you". | Poppy fell silent again for just under a year, before one night saying to her mum: "Mummy, I love you". |
'Still upsets me' | 'Still upsets me' |
Her parents, who also did their own research into her condition and used flash cards in the hope of helping her, credit a nursery teacher called Sammy Macleod and the second "amazing" speech therapist in finally "unlocking" their daughter's voice properly. | Her parents, who also did their own research into her condition and used flash cards in the hope of helping her, credit a nursery teacher called Sammy Macleod and the second "amazing" speech therapist in finally "unlocking" their daughter's voice properly. |
Poppy had been expected to be on a speech therapy plan for the full seven years of her primary school education, but was given discharge papers in June. | Poppy had been expected to be on a speech therapy plan for the full seven years of her primary school education, but was given discharge papers in June. |
Her mum said: "I am one of those needy mums who needs to hear her children say they love her. To hear Poppy say 'Mummy, love you' that night still upsets me. | Her mum said: "I am one of those needy mums who needs to hear her children say they love her. To hear Poppy say 'Mummy, love you' that night still upsets me. |
"But now she is a little chatterbox. You can't keep her quiet." | "But now she is a little chatterbox. You can't keep her quiet." |
Asked on the radio programme for an interesting fact on giraffes, Poppy said: "They have purple and blue tongues. | |
"And they eat lettuce." | |
Anna Biavati Smith, a speech therapist from the charity Selective Mutism Information and Research Association, told The Kaye Adams Programme that Poppy's issues with speech were rare but could be overcome with help. | Anna Biavati Smith, a speech therapist from the charity Selective Mutism Information and Research Association, told The Kaye Adams Programme that Poppy's issues with speech were rare but could be overcome with help. |
Gary Gilmour, the safari park's manager, added: "Poppy's story is very touching and we are delighted that Bella the giraffe helped with her recovery." |
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