Since a lot of people don't know a lot about Selective Mutism or even know what it is I thought it would be a good idea to do some research on the symptoms of Selective Mutism. This was one of the main questions I had about it. I didn't know what to look for in a child who might be selectively mute. I did some searching online and I came across one website that was simple and to the point.
http://www.theselectivemutism.info/symptoms-of-selective-mutism/index.php
From this website I learned some common symptoms. One thing I found interesting was people think of Selective Mutism as a form or Autism which it is not.
Some of the symptoms may be -
- The child has trouble speaking in social situations even when they are able to speak at home. They have a fear of being embarassed socially.
- You may not notice the symptoms in the first month of school because many children are shy at first.
- They child will have a difficult time maintaining eye contact.
- Blank facial expressions.
- Worry's more about things than other people.
- The child may be sensitive to noise.
- May have compulsive traits similiar to OCD. ( Working with a child in my student teaching experience with Selective Mutism, I noticed that everything had to be very neat for her. Her desk was always kept neat and her work had to always be very neat. I wonder if this had to do with the Selective Mutism?)
- The child will seem shy, but they have a fear of people.
From these symptoms it gives you a better idea of what Selective Mutism is and what it is like for a child to have it. When I think of it, I kinda of think of it as a type of social anxiety.
Hi Libby, I don't know a lot about Selective Mutism (it seems like such a complicated disorder), so I have really enjoyed learning more about it through your blog. I originally thought the children were refusing to speak, but really their anxiety is so intense that even if they wanted to talk they would not be able to because their vocal cords become frozen with fear. In order for these children to speak in public their anxiety has to be addressed and managed first. I found an interesting article that might be helpful to you at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2124284/The-children-choose-stay-silent-The-sad-surprisingly-common-plight-youngsters-selective-mutism.html#ixzz1r5NjoAmbhttp://. It talks about SM from parents' perspectives.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing this is a low incidence disability. Have you investigated the communication sciences disorders literature? You may want to contact someone in the CSD department at UC.
ReplyDeleteWhen the parent of the Selectively Mute child met with my mentor and I about her son, she also described it as a type of social anxiety. Her son was also getting outside help from a doctor at Children's Hospital. His mother should us pictures that he had drawn to express how he feels about talking at school. This became a way for him to communicate with my Mentor and I. I think it's important for children with Selective Mutism to take small steps as their comfortable to help ease their anxiety about speaking in public. The selectively mute child in my class began answering with "sss" for yes and "nnn" for no to my mentor and I, but only in private. He seemed to be making gradual progress because the speech therapist at our school would set small goals for him. I found the symptoms you listed interesting because this child didn't show any signs of OCD and never had blank facial expressions. He was actually very animated and social with other students, he just didn't speak with them. Selective Mutism seems to be something thats hard to diagnose.
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