What is Selective Mutism? What are the Symptoms and Recommendations for Solutions?
Selective Mutism
It is a childhood anxiety disorder that occurs with the symptoms of a child’s inability to speak and communicate effectively in social environments.
These children can talk and communicate in environments where they are safe and comfortable.
What Are the Symptoms of Selective Mutism?
1-Speaking freely at home, but being completely or mostly nonverbal at school or in the presence of strangers.
2-Inability to speak in the presence of others, even with familiar adults.
3- They have difficulties in speaking with their peers at school.
4- They appear to be “closed” or “paralyzed” in social situations.
5-They have behaviors such as using gestures, facial expressions and nodding instead of verbal communication.
6-Most, if not all, characteristics of children with Selective Mutism are predominantly anxiety-related.
When Is Selective Mutism Diagnosed?
Most children are diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 8. In retrospect, it is often noted that these children were temperamentally inhibited and severely anxious in social situations as infants and toddlers, but adults thought they were simply too shy.
Most children have a history of separation anxiety.
What often happens is telling parents that the child is not talking or interacting with other children.
In other cases, parents will notice early on that their child is not speaking to most individuals outside the home.
Why is Early Detection so Important?
The sooner a child is treated for Selective Mutism, the faster they will respond to treatment and education.
If a child has been mute for years, he may become a habit of not speaking verbally.
Because Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder, if left untreated, it can have negative consequences throughout a child’s life, so early diagnosis is vital.
If not diagnosed early;
You may encounter the situations that I will write below!!!
1- Worsening anxiety states may occur.
2-Symptoms of depression and other anxiety disorders may occur.
3-Social isolation and withdrawal from social environments may occur.
4-They may experience a weak self and lack of self-confidence.
5-School refusal, poor academic performance and the possibility of dropping out of school may increase.
6-Often, these children show signs of severe anxiety, such as separation anxiety, frequent tantrums and crying, moodiness, sleep problems, and extreme shyness from infancy.
7-Children with Selective Mutism often appear severely cold in temperament.
8-Some children with Selective Mutism may develop sensory processing disorders.
They can be sensitive to sounds, light, touch, taste and smell.
10-Some children have difficulty regulating sensory input, which can affect their emotional response.
11- They may experience sensory integration disorder as well as emotional state disorder.
12- Experienced anxiety can cause a child to shut down, avoid a situation, and withdraw.
13-Some children (20-30%) with Selective Mutism have subtle speech or language abnormalities, such as receptive or expressive language abnormalities and language delays.
14-The environments that children with Selective Mutism fear are birthday parties, school crowds, family gatherings, etc. social crowded environments.
What should parents do if they suspect their child has Selective Mutism?
1-Parents should first remove all pressure and expectations for the child to speak.
2- They should convey to their children that they understand that they are afraid and that it is difficult to put out words and that they will help their children in this difficult period.
3- Praise the child’s efforts and successes, support their difficulties and disappointments, and gain acceptance.
4-Parents should talk to their family physicians or pediatricians, and contact a psychiatrist who has experience in mutism or an experienced special educator.
What is the difference between Selective Mutism and traumatic mutism?
1-Children with Selective Mutism speak in at least one environment and are rarely silent in all environments. Because they are anxious, they choose to avoid interacting in their environment.
2-Children with traumatic mutism usually suddenly develop mutism in any situation.
3-A child who witnessed the death of a family member or another traumatic event and became silent in every environment can be an example of this.
- It is important to understand that some children with Selective Mutism may begin to have mutism in school and other social settings.
5-They may develop mutism in all environments, due to negative reinforcement of their mutism, misunderstandings from those around them, and perhaps increased stress in their environment.
6-These children have progressive mutism and are quiet at home/outside with all people including their parents and siblings.
What Behaviors Do Children with Selective Mutism Exhibit in Social Environments?
It is important to realize that most children with Selective Mutism are just as normal and socially appropriate as other children in a relaxed setting.
Parents often say how loud, sociable, funny, curious, extremely verbal, and even bossy and stubborn these children are at home!
What distinguishes most children with Selective Mutism is their severe behavioral inhibition and their inability to speak and communicate comfortably in most social situations.
It is common for many children with Selective Mutism to have frivolous facial expressions, never to smile.
As social relationships are established and a child or several friendships develop, they can interact and talk at school or in other settings.
Over time, these children learn to cope with and participate in certain social situations.
They often perform non-verbally or by speaking quietly to a select few.
Children with Selective Mutism often have great difficulty initiating speech and may prefer nonverbal responses.
As time goes on this can be quite frustrating for the child.
The child’s non-verbal communication can continue for years, and if the child is not properly diagnosed and treated, it can become more ingrained and reinforced.
Sedentary behavior often manifests in a child who looks and behaves normally but communicates non-verbally. This kid just can’t start talking. It requires treatment to focus on methods that will help the child forget his or her current mute behavior.
Advice for Parents
1-Do not pressure or bribe your child to encourage them to talk.
2- Let your child know that you understand that they are afraid to speak and that they sometimes have difficulty speaking.
3- Tell them that they can take small steps when they feel ready, and reassure them that the conversation will become easier.
3-Do not praise your child for speaking openly as this can be embarrassing. Wait until you’re alone with them and consider a special treat for their success.
4- Reassure your child that non-verbal communication, such as smiling and waving, is fine until they feel better about speaking.
5-Do not avoid family visits, consider what environmental changes are necessary to make the situation more comfortable for your child.
6-Ask friends and relatives to give your child time to warm up at his own pace and focus on fun activities instead of making them talk.
In addition to verbal reassurance, it is helpful to give them love, support and patience.
"The content of the page is for informational purposes only. Consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment."
