Selective Mutism

Some children may feel uncomfortable speaking in unfamiliar settings or around people they don't know. Usually, this discomfort fades, and they begin talking once they feel more at ease. However, children with selective mutism struggle to speak or may appear afraid to communicate in certain situations or places consistently. This condition can persist into adolescence and adulthood, but help is available.

Overview of Selective Mutism

Children with selective mutism speak in some settings but remain silent in others. This condition often begins when a child starts school, though it may appear earlier and continue into adulthood.

Schedule an appointment with one of our Speech Language Therapists today to discover how we can help you.

Signs of Selective Mutism

If your child has selective mutism, you might notice the following:

They consistently don’t speak in specific situations or places, like in the classroom or around certain people, while speaking normally in other contexts.
The inability to speak interferes with their schoolwork, friendships, or social interactions.
This pattern of not speaking lasts for at least one month, not counting the first month of school when many children are shy.
Your child understands and speaks the language used in the situation where they don’t speak. (It’s important to note that if a child doesn’t speak because they’re unfamiliar with the language, this is not selective mutism.)
Their mutism is not related to conditions like autism, stuttering, or mental health issues.

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Causes of Selective Mutism

There isn’t a single cause for selective mutism, but several factors may contribute, including:

An anxiety disorder or a family history of social anxiety or selective mutism
Being extremely shy or afraid of embarrassing themselves in public
Preferring solitude and avoiding social interactions

Testing for Selective Mutism

If you’re concerned about selective mutism, speak with your doctor. They might refer your child to a psychologist or psychiatrist to assess for anxiety. A speech-language Therapist (SLT) can also evaluate your child’s speech and language abilities.

An SLT’s assessment may involve:

Screening your child’s hearing
Evaluating how well their lips, jaw, and tongue move
Assessing their understanding of spoken language
Discussing the situations in which your child does or does not speak
Observing how well your child expresses ideas and needs through speech, gestures, writing, or facial expressions

If your child is unwilling to talk to the SLT, they may request video or audio recordings of your child speaking or observe your interactions with them.

Treatment for Selective Mutism

Treatment plans are personalized, SLTs help children feel more comfortable speaking
in different settings through various techniques, including:

Stimulus Fading

The SLT gradually introduces your child to environments where they are less comfortable speaking. At first, they may be with someone they talk to easily, and over time, new individuals are introduced to help your child adapt to new situations.

Shaping

The SLT rewards small steps toward speaking. Initially, your child may point or gesture, then whisper or silently mouth words, with the goal of eventually speaking aloud in various situations.

Self-Modeling Technique

The SLT may use video or audio recordings of your child speaking in a comfortable setting. These recordings can be played in situations where your child typically doesn’t speak, helping them gain confidence. In some cases, recordings might be edited to show your child successfully speaking in challenging environments.

The SLT may collaborate with teachers, counselors, coaches, or family members
to help your child become comfortable speaking in different situations.

If your child is suffering from any of these conditions, do not hesitate to
contact Perfect Balance Speech & Language Therapy for help.

Request an appointment to improve speech and communication skills.

Our Speech Therapy center in Abu Dhabi can help enhance language abilities, articulation, and
social communication, empowering you to communicate confidently and effectively!

Schedule a consultation with Perfect Balance Speech & Language Therapy today, and
take the first step on your child’s journey to better communication!

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