![]() The clinician may initially want to talk to you without your child present, so you can speak freely about any anxieties you have about your child's development or behaviour. Your child may also need to see a mental health professional or school educational psychologist. Your GP or local integrated care board (ICB) should be able to give you the telephone number of your nearest NHS speech and language therapy service or another specialist service that can help in your area. Do not accept the opinion that your child will grow out of it or they are "just shy". You can also contact a speech and language therapy clinic directly. If you suspect your child has selective mutism and help is not available, or there are additional concerns – for example, the child struggles to understand instructions or follow routines – speak to a GP and ask them to refer you to a local specialist service for a formal diagnosis. Staff in early years settings and schools may receive training so they're able to provide appropriate support. It's important for selective mutism to be recognised early by families and schools so they can work together to reduce a child's anxiety. Diagnosis in childrenĪ child can successfully overcome selective mutism if it's diagnosed at an early age and appropriately managed. It can continue into adolescence and adulthood if not managed. ![]() Left untreated, selective mutism can lead to isolation, low self-esteem and social anxiety disorder. There's no relationship between selective mutism and autism, although a child may have both. When mutism occurs as a symptom of post-traumatic stress, it follows a very different pattern and the child suddenly stops talking in environments where they previously had no difficulty.Īnother misconception is that a child with selective mutism is controlling or manipulative, or has autism. This can make them "shut down" and be unable to speak when overwhelmed in a busy environment. Again, their anxiety can transfer to other people in that environment. Some children have trouble processing sensory information such as loud noise and jostling from crowds – a condition known as sensory integration dysfunction. If they have a speech and language disorder or hearing problem, it can make speaking even more stressful. Many children become too distressed to speak when separated from their parents and transfer this anxiety to the adults who try to settle them. The child will usually have a tendency to anxiety and have difficulty taking everyday events in their stride. The cause is not always clear, but it's known to be associated with anxiety. What causes selective mutismĮxperts regard selective mutism as a fear ( phobia) of talking to certain people. Some children may manage to respond with a few words, or they may speak in an altered voice, such as a whisper. ![]() More confident children with selective mutism can use gestures to communicate – for example, they may nod for "yes" or shake their head for "no".īut more severely affected children tend to avoid any form of communication – spoken, written or gestured.
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