![]() ![]() Let your child know you understand they’re scared to speak and have difficulty speaking at times.Don’t pressurise or bribe your child to encourage them to speak.You may find the advice below helpful if your child has been diagnosed with selective mutism. Social Twitter takeover by SMIRA, a speech and language therapist, and a person with selective mutism to mark Selective Mutism Awareness Month 2020. ‘Help me to speak’ documentary about selective mutism on Channel 4 in 2006, also available on Youtube. ‘My child won’t speak’ from a BBC series (2010) available on youtube ‘Finding your voice’ on BBC Radio 4 on 10th February 2015 Instant Help Books: New Harbinger Publications. The Anxiety Workbook for Teens: an instant help book for teens. (2016) The selective mutism resource manual (2nd Edition). Washington, DC: Magination Press (ages 6-12) What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety. Overcoming your Child’s Fears and Worries: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioural Techniques. Few people see the child or young person as they really are, for example, a sensitive, thoughtful individual who’s chatty, outgoing and fun-loving when relaxed and unaffected by their selective mutism.Īnxiety UK, Children and Young People with Anxiety: A Guide for Parents and CarersĬhanksy, T.E.Some children may manage to respond with a word or two, or they may speak in an altered voice, such as a whisper.More severely affected children tend to avoid any form of communication, whether this is spoken, written or gestured.For example, they may nod for “yes” or shake their head for “no”. More confident children with selective mutism can use gestures to communicate.having temper tantrums when they get home from school, or getting angry when questioned by parents.The main warning sign is the marked contrast in the child’s ability to engage with different people, characterised by a sudden stillness and frozen facial expression when they’re expected to talk to someone who’s outside their comfort zone.It’s often first noticed when the child starts to interact with people outside their family, such as when they begin nursery or school. Selective mutism usually starts in early childhood, between the ages of two and four. There is however usually no spontaneous communication with adults. Low profile: This is when the child may manage to speak a little when this is absolutely necessary and when the fear of disapproval outweighs the fear of talking. High profile: This is when the child is totally silent with certain people in certain situations. Eye-to-eye gaze and facial expression may also diminish. They may become ‘frozen’ and then find it difficult to point to indicate or use gesture. Over time, children with selective mutism may withdraw more generally and then fear other means of communication, such as writing or pointing. Children with selective mutism can become fearful of vocalising in other ways too, such as coughing or laughing. Selective mutism is best thought of as a ‘speech phobia’. The inability to speak in certain situations is limiting academic or social functioning.The disorder is not due to another communication or language learning difficulty.This varied speech pattern has been apparent for a month or more.The child speaks happily and freely in some situations, but not in others.Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), whereby: If you are a speech and language therapist, please sign up or log in to access the full version of this content. Social, emotional and mental health (children).Learning and development › Practice-based learning. ![]()
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