Student With Mutism Turns To Music

Fox 29's Lena Lewis introduces us to a 10-year old at Blakenburg Elementary in the city's Parkside neighborhood.

It was center stage for 10-year old Akil McDowall when he's got his guitar, something his teacher never expected to see.

Mcdowall suffers from Selective Mutism. It affects 7-in 1-thousand children.

It used to be parents just thought their children were extremely shy, but it goes beyond that.

Doctors say children may just choose to not talk in places where they feel uncomfortable.

McDowall was invited to play a song on stage with singer songwriter Joshua radin, and a transformation took place that is beyond words.

McDowall and all the kids at Blakenburg Elementary school got their instruments through a program called little kids rock.

Doctors say a lot of kids with this disorder oftentimes get involved with art, writing or music, it provides a creative outlet for them.