THE parents of a young Rogerstone boy who mysteriously stopped talking seven years ago are raising money for speech therapy in a bid to help get his voice back.

Ten-year-old Adam Barnes progressed normally until he was three years old but gradually lost his language skills.

His mother Rachael Barnes, aged 42, said doctors have failed to diagnose the High Cross Primary School pupil.

"He had started having OCD, he had to go round the room checking doors and windows," she said. "His eye contact disappeared and he stopped socialising.

"The paediatrician said it's probably autism but I'm a nursery teacher and I'd worked with autistic children and didn't think it was.

"Since then we've been told about Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders (Pandas).

"We found out about two years ago that Adam might have it. We've tried really hard to get him diagnosed, we need a referral from someone in Wales, there's not many people who can diagnose it."

Mrs Barnes said she and her husband Patrick, 47, had found the process "frustrating" and that they had tried everything to find out what is wrong.

"He wants to speak, he just doesn't know how," she added. "We've had no guidance on how to get him to talk.

"He stands around the other children and he's quite happy for them to guide him, he giggles a lot. He is very loving and affection, he laughs a lot.

"We've had so much support, everybody loves him who knows him."

The expensive therapy sessions come to about £200 a month.

"Adam is improving," his mother said. "He said to me 'what's making that noise?' when an aeroplane went past and said 'I don't want chicken for my dinner'. He never says sentences, it's normally just like two words.

"If he's ill and we're trying to find out what's wrong, he can't tell us what hurts. We don't know if he's got a headache or a stomach ache, it's difficult."

Despite the difficulties, Mrs Barnes describes the family as positive.

"There have been times where I've cried myself to sleep worrying about it, we just don't know what's going on in his brain." she added.

Adam's brother six-year-old Jack also struggles at times to cope with his big brother not talking to him but the pair remain close.

To raise funds, a swimming party will be held on July 12 at Risca Leisure Centre. The family are also looking for a local pub to host a pub quiz.

To donate or to contact Mrs Barnes visit gofundme.com/suxqhg