Selective mutism is a severe anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations, such as with classmates at school or to relatives they do not see very often. It usually starts during childhood and, if left untreated, can persist into adulthood.
How do you work with a selectively mute child?
When interacting with a child with Selective Mutism, DO:
- Allow for warm-up time.
- Monitor the child’s body language.
- Talk “around” the child at first with focus on parents or siblings.
- Get down on the child’s level and focus on a prop.
- Ask choice and direct questions to the child with focus on the prop.
Can a child recover from selective mutism?
Can kids grow out of SM? Experts don’t know how many children with selective mutism will grow out of the disorder. But what we do know is that treating it becomes much harder the older a child is, so it is extremely important not to put off treatment.
How do you fix selective mutism?
Behavioral strategies and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are the most widely supported therapeutic treatments for selective mutism. Using a wide variety of strategies aimed at reducing the anxiety beneath the behavior, these therapeutic interventions help kids learn to gradually engage in more speaking behaviors.
What triggers selective mutism?
There are several risk factors for selective mutism, all of which play a key role in the development of the disorder. These factors include a family history of anxiety, speech issues, language problems, and a tendency to avoid unfamiliar settings.
Does selective mutism run in families?
The majority of children with Selective Mutism have a genetic predisposition to anxiety. In other words, they have inherited a tendency to be anxious from one or more family members.
Is selective mutism on the autism spectrum?
Selective Mutism is a Social Anxiety Disorder most commonly found in children and often mistaken and misdiagnosed as Autism. On the surface some of the characteristics may appear to mimic Autistic behaviors.
Does selective mutism ever go away?
Selective mutism typically does not go away on its own, and in fact can lead to worsened anxiety and social difficulty if not addressed. Treatment requires a cohesive plan between home and school to produce lasting change.
Is selective mutism a mental illness?
Selective Mutism is a complex childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child’s inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social settings, such as school. These children are able to speak and communicate in settings where they are comfortable, secure, and relaxed.
