Selective mutism
Getting help and support
It's only relativelyrecently that selective mutism has been properly understood and effective treatment approaches have been developed.
The body of expertise among healthcare professionals, educational psychologists and teaching staff is growing, but those seeking help need to be prepared for the fact that professionals in their area may not have up-to-date knowledge or experience of working with selective mutism.
If this is the case, you should seek out teachers and healthcare professionals who are willing to listen, learn and develop their specialist knowledge to provide appropriate support.
Teenagers and adults with selective mutism can find information and support at iSpeak , Finding Our Voices and the facebook group SM SpaceCafe .
The Royal College of Speechand Language Therapists and the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice can help you find treating professionals.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Find out about selective mutism, a severe anxiety disorder that prevents a person from speaking to certain people or in certain social situations.
Signs of selective mutism
Selective mutism usually starts in early childhood, between the ages of two and four. It's often first noticed whenthe child starts to interact with people outside their family, such aswhen they begin
What causes selective mutism?
Experts regard selective mutism asa fear (phobia) of talking to certain people. The cause isn't always clear, butit's known to be associated with anxiety. Thechildwill usually have inherited a tende
Diagnosing selective mutism
Left untreated, selective mutism can lead to isolation, low self-esteem and social anxiety disorder . It can continue into adolescence and adulthood if not tackled. However, a child can successfully
Associated difficulties
It's important to understand how selective mutism canaffect a child's education and development, and the impact it can have on a young person's or adult's everyday life. A person with selective mutis
Treating selective mutism
With appropriate handling and treatment, most children are able to overcome selective mutism.But the older they are when the condition is diagnosed, the longer it will take. The effectiveness of trea
Advice for parents
You may find the advice below helpful if your child has been diagnosed with selective mutism. Don't pressurise or bribe your child to encourage them to speak. Let your child know you understand the
Getting help and support
It's only relativelyrecently that selective mutism has been properly understood and effective treatment approaches have been developed. The body of expertise among healthcare professionals, education
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