Eight-year wait for daughter to say 'mummy'

Most mothers think nothing of their child giving them a kiss and calling them mummy.

But for Sue Partridge that greeting by daughter Georgia, eight, moved her to tears.

Today, she told how Georgia's autism had silenced her since birth - and only specialist therapy helped her to talk.

"We knew something was wrong from the beginning," said Mrs Partridge, from West Ewell. "She wasn't like normal kids, not cuddly or interested in us. She'd get obsessed with flicking string and leaves and by five she still hadn't spoken."

Georgia was diagnosed as severely autistic and placed in a specialist school but she made no progress.

Her mother said: "Then we saw a documentary on the Son-Rise programme to help autistic children. We went to a course in Britain and things started changing."

Son-Rise promotes intensive one-to-one therapy, encouraging children to engage in their surroundings by showing interest in their quirky habits. Mrs Partridge, 42, and husband Craig, 43, said the results make the huge effort worthwhile. "That moment when she turned to give me a kiss this year was overwhelming," she said. "It was heartbreaking."

The words "mummy" and "daddy" soon followed and Georgia's brother Jack, 10, is now happy he has a sister who finally wants to play with him.

Georgia is home-taught by her mother and a team of volunteers who play with her for 12 hours a day.

"We know Georgia has a long way to go but we're just so proud of how she's done," Mrs Partridge said.

The Partridges are seeking more volunteers to help look after Georgia and other autistic children.

The National Autistic Society emphasised that autism is a lifelong condition, which can be helped with intensive therapy but not cured.