- Find a treating professional. ...
- Educate yourself and others about selective mutism. ...
- Allow warm-up time. ...
- Offer praise when the child communicates of their own free will. ...
- Don't require the child to answer in large groups. ...
- Play games with a verbal component.
How do I know if I have selective mutism?
- Most affected children and adolescents function normally in other areas of their lives and are able to learn age appropriate skills despite not speaking in some important situations.
- Less than 1 % of the population has selective mutism.
- Girls and boys are both likely to develop this disorder.
Is it possible to have BPD with selective mutism?
Start today! I have been diagnosed with both BPD and selective mutism, so yes, I believe it is possible. For me, my selective mutism is related to social anxiety and possibly an autism spectrum disorder (though I have had other professionals question that diagnosis), while BPD is on its own, if that makes sense.
What are the different types of Selective Mutism treatment?
- Selective mutism is studied as an extreme form of social phobia.
- Selective mutism can be effectively treated with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).
- Majority of children, who suffer from muteness, or even selective mutism, have a genetic tendency for anxiety. They are highly likely to develop anxiety disorders.
Does selective mutism keep getting worse?
Selective mutism is a situational anxiety disorder, which can be likened to a phobia of speech. It almost always develops in early childhood – as it did for me. And for me it became much worse at around 14 years old. However having met an older adult with selective mutism I can state that it can potentially be lifelong.
How do you help someone with selective mutism?
Here are nine evidence-based tips on how to help a child with selective mutism in the classroom.Accept nonverbal communication at first. ... Avoid questions at first and ease into one-sided spoken communication. ... Ask forced-choice questions and give specific praise. ... Avoid mind-reading and reinforce speech, not gestures.More items...
How do you break out of selective mutism?
Among the most effective methods of treating symptoms of selective mutism is CBT. This action-based and problem-solving talking therapy is carried out by highly trained therapists, where you or your older child can benefit from further understanding of the disorder and anxiety in general.
Can selective mutism be fixed?
It's possible for adults to overcome selective mutism, although they may continue to experience the psychological and practical effects of spending years without social interaction or not being able to reach their academic or occupational potential.
Can selective mutism be treated with medication?
In some children, selective mutism is managed using medication. A group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used to treat selective mutism. Fluoxetine is an SSRI mostly used and reduces symptoms in 75% of affected children.
Is selective mutism permanent?
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.
What triggers selective mutism?
Researchers are still learning about factors that can lead to selective mutism, such as: An anxiety disorder. Poor family relationships. Untreated psychological issues. Self-esteem problems.
Is selective mutism caused by trauma?
Selective Mutism is therefore a symptom. Children are rarely “just mute.” Emphasis needs to be on causes of the mutism and propagating factors of mutism. Studies have shown no evidence that the cause of Selective Mutism is related to abuse, neglect or trauma.
Is selective mutism part of autism?
Myth 5: Selective mutism is a form of autism. Some people confuse selective mutism with autism, but it is important to know that they are not the same disorder.
Can mute people talk?
With selective mutism, a person suddenly stops speaking, but without any injury to the brain. These individuals can speak in some circumstances but not others, or with some people but not others. Psychogenic mutism most often shows up in children, but it can also appear later in life.
How long does it take to treat selective mutism?
Selective mutism is one of the more severe anxiety disorders in children. It therefore takes some time for a child to learn to talk freely and spontaneously to everyone in all situations. Our experience shows that it takes approximately 12-24 months for selective mutism to resolve with an intensive treatment program.
Which pharmaceuticals are used to treat selective mutism?
SSRIs, especially fluoxetine, have demonstrated effectiveness for disabling social anxiety disorder and selective mutism. Experts postulate that SSRIs modulate anxiety symptoms both in the brain and peripherally in the gastrointestinal/autonomic nervous system.
What is selective mutism?
Selective mutism is a relatively rare disorder in children as well as adults causing inability to speak under certain situations (e.g. classroom) where speaking is expected, despite ability to speak normally in other situations. Selective mutism is estimated to affect 0.1-0.7% of the population, but the condition is likely under-reported due ...
What medications are used to help with selective mutism?
Common medications prescribed to help reduce anxiety to allow speaking and interaction include fluoxetine (Prozac) and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
How many people have selective mutism?
Selective mutism is estimated to affect 0.1-0.7% of the population, but the condition is likely under-reported due to poor understanding of this condition by the general public. Symptoms usually begin between 2.7 and 4.2 years of age. This article will offer some tips on how to overcome selective mutism and minimise its detrimental effects on ...
How to get comfortable with speaking?
Try audio recordings of one's own voice, then replaying the speech to develop comfort with speaking -- this technique is known as Shaping. Practice whispering at a public place as in an office or classroom with a friend/parent or teacher, and practice gradually increasing the volume to a talking level.
What is the negative impact of inability to speak?
The inability to speak under certain situation is having a negative impact on social and academic functions.
How to improve communication skills?
Practice as necessary with all kinds of communications; become comfortable getting attention, raising your hand, nodding/shaking your head, pointing, writing, making some eye contact, etc. Introduce speaking a little at a time, and progressively speak a little more . Gradually increase the comfort level.
What is the inability to speak?
Ability to talk and normally interact in other circumstances. The inability to speak under certain situation is having a negative impact on social and academic functions.
What is the best treatment for selective mutism?
The most research-supported treatment for selective mutism is behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy approaches, including gradual exposures, contingency management, successive approximations/ shaping, and stimulus fading, are successful in the treatment of childhood anxiety.
What is selective mutism?
Selective Mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder in which a child or adolescent fails to speak in specific social situations or to specific people (e.g., school, birthday parties, or to familiar adults), despite being able to speak in other situations and to other people (e.g., home, parents, or to peers).
How does selective mutism affect children?
Selective mutism causes significant impairment in daily functioning, academic performance, and/or social relationships. Due to the fear of speaking, children are unable to ask to use the bathroom or communicate when they are in pain, or fully participate in school or social activities. The duration of SM can last several months or persist for years, and, if left untreated, it can have many short-term and long-term negative consequences on a child’s life. These include depression, risk of developing other anxiety disorders, social isolation or withdrawal, poor academic performance or school refusal, and risk of substance abuse.
How to overcome selective mutism?
To effectively overcome Selective Mutism and all anxieties, an individual needs to be involved in a treatment program, such as those rooted in evidenced-based Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® (S-CAT®), like Individualized Intensives and CommuniCamp™ Intensive Group Treatment & Parent Training Program. Developed by Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum, this holistic or “whole-person” treatment approach is designed to reduce anxiety, build self-esteem, increase social comfort and communication in all settings.
How to help a child with speech?
Accept the child’s level of communication as the first step to securing comfort. Understand that strategies can be used to help the child progress into speech, and that developing the child’s comfort, engagement, and nonverbal communication is a vital step in the process.
How to talk to a child without preparation?
Approach the child without preparation. Look directly at the child without focusing on a prop. Ask open-ended questions, which require the child to think in order to formulate an answer. Ask, bribe, or beg the child to talk to you.
What is selective mutism treatment?
Selective Mutism treatment requires skills and exercises that are not often addressed in typical anxiety treatment. This is why it is crucial to seek treatment from a clinician who specializes in the treatment of SM. Even still, the treatment of adolescents and adults with SM is different than treatment for children with SM.
What is selective mutism?
When people speak about Selective Mutism (SM), they often refer to children. That is because SM is an anxiety disorder that is diagnosed in childhood, typically around when a child begins school. But what happens to SM when a child grows into adolescence, or when a teen matures into adulthood?
Why do people with SM feel isolated?
Many teens and adults with SM struggle with social isolation as a result of their anxiety surrounding speaking to others. As children, especially in preschool and early elementary years, we are often taught by teachers that all of our peers are our “friends,” regardless of differences. As children get older, they begin to segregate into social circles, forming closer bonds with those whom they share interests. These social circles tend to only become more prominent and defined in adolescence and adulthood. This is often difficult for individuals with SM because they may not be able to tell others what their interests are, or they may be socially isolated by their peers for being “different.” The fear of speaking, and the realization that others may notice their lack of speaking, often causes the person with SM to withdraw, especially as they get older.
How does selective mutism affect students?
Every day, people of all ages with Selective Mutism struggle with an internal dialogue and conflicting emotions. They want to talk, but the thought of talking makes them anxious. Sometimes they go to speak, and nothing comes out. Candid reactions, teasing from others, or even perceived judgments may further increase their anxiety, making them less likely to be able to speak again on another attempt. Even in a kindergarten or preschool classroom, it doesn’t take long for other students to identify a student with SM as the child who “doesn’t talk.”
What to do when you have difficulty speaking during an interview?
Regarding difficulty speaking during a job interview, exposure activities may include practicing interviewing skills in the office, asking for help in finding items at a grocery store (to become familiar with speaking with and asking questions of an unfamiliar person), sharing personal information about one’s self in the form of a small-group presentation, and then actually participating in a formal interview.
Can selective mutism be a school?
In grade school, college, or the workforce, individuals with Selective Mutism may qualify for school-based or work-based accommodations.
Is selective mutism a rare condition?
SM is a rare condition and most mental health providers don’t know what it is, much less how to treat it. Frequently, people with SM travel for hours, or even to other states, to receive treatment from someone who specializes in the treatment of Selective Mutism. Selective Mutism treatment requires skills and exercises that are not often addressed ...
How to treat selective mutism in children?
The physician should then provide a referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist who treats selective mutism. Treatment with an understanding psychiatrist who has experience in this specific condition is crucial for the best results. The most common treatment these psychiatrists use is behavioral therapy. The goal is to gradually lower the child's anxiety. At first, they are asked to complete simple verbal and are rewarded with either praise or small gifts. Gradually, the child is given slightly harder tasks with rewards.
Why is selective mutism treated?
The earlier selective mutism is treated the better. Treatment is necessary because it does not go away and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. It can lead to academic underachievement and social isolation later on in life.
How to encourage self expression in children?
Parents can ask questions at home to encourage self-expression. Start off with choice questions, then gradually work up to open-ended questions. Praise all along the way. If the child is mute around strangers, have an adult acquaintance visit one day, and have the visitor sit away from the child at first.
How does selective mutism affect children?
Selective mutism impairs a child's school performance and social life. A child may be so anxious that they cannot raise their hand and say they need to go to the bathroom, leading to accidents in the classroom, which lead to embarrassment and shame, and, in turn, greater anxiety and lower self-esteem. Parents and teachers must acknowledge ...
What is selective mutism?
Selective mutism is a severe anxiety disorder that usually develops between ages three and five. A child with selective mutism is anxious to the point they cannot speak. Girls are more often affected than boys. Typically, patients are paralyzed by fear and are worried about embarrassment when speaking. Patients with selective mutism are often also diagnosed with social anxiety. The earlier selective mutism is treated the better. Treatment is necessary because it does not go away and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. It can lead to academic underachievement and social isolation later on in life.
Can a child with selective mutism be bombarded with questions?
A child should not be bombarded with questions.
Can mutism be a chatterbox?
Oddly, a child with selective mutism can actually be a chatterbox at home and with a few selected relatives and friends, as they are typically less anxious in familiar environments and with family. Parents are very often not aware of their child's silence in school until a teacher contacts them.
How to help a child with selective mutism?
Consistency in the intervention and expectations, at home and at school, of everyone on the team involved is important when working with children with selective mutism. When providing predictability and control for the child with selective mutism, he/she will feel a decrease in anxiety and an improvement in self image based on mastery of skills in a variety of settings (Kotrba, 2015). The use of social stories and scripting can be helpful ways to reduce the child's anxiety and uncertainty in a variety of social situations (Dow et al., 1995; Kotrba, 2015).
What is selective mutism?
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. An individual's pattern of mutism can vary greatly.
What is the evaluation of selective mutism?
Evaluation and assessment of children with selective mutism is accomplished through a collaborative approach with an interdisciplinary team consisting of a pediatrician, psychologist or psychiatrist, SLP, teacher, school social worker or guidance counselor, and family/caregivers. During the evaluation, parents/caregivers may need to help elicit verbal output. The SLP can also involve parents/caregivers by requesting a video recording of the child's communicative behavior at home and then compare the child's behavior in a clinical or school setting. Video recordings may also be used for subsequent language sample analysis.
When is selective mutism diagnosed?
Screening for selective mutism is conducted whenever selective mutism is suspected or as part of a comprehensive speech and language evaluation for any child with communication concerns. If a parent or caregiver reports that a child is communicating successfully at home but not in one or more settings, the SLP may want to consider the diagnosis of selective mutism.
What are the characteristics of selective mutism?
If they are able to express themselves, they may rely on gesturing, nodding, pointing, or whispering. They may have fears of being ignored, ridiculed, or harshly evaluated if they speak.
What is the incidence of selective mutism?
The incidence of selective mutism refers to the number of new cases identified in a specified time period. Prevalence is the number of individuals who are living with selective mutism in a given time period.
Can a child with selective mutism speak?
Children with selective mutism typically do not speak at school, which interferes with academic, educational, and/or social performance. Children with this disorder sometimes communicate via nonspoken or nonvocal means (e.g., pointing, writing). Collaboration between the speech-language pathologist (SLP) and behavioral health professionals ...
