EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY CENTER
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Quick Facts on Selective Mutism
​A brief overview of the signs and symptoms of selective mutism, as well as treatments.

Selective mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder in which a child who is talkative at home is unable to speak in other settings, such as school. Parents often notice signs of SM when a child is 3 or 4 years old, and may spend a whole year in preschool without saying a word.
Symptoms
  • Being freely verbal and even gregarious at home, but completely or mostly nonverbal at school or around strangers
  • Seeming “paralyzed” with fear, or “shut down” when unable to speak
  • Some use gestures, facial expressions, and nodding to get by; others have difficulty communicating even nonverbally
Treatment for Selective Mutism
Selective mutism is treated with cognitive behavioral therapy. Pressure usually exacerbates the problem, so the therapist works gradually and systematically with the child, using positive reinforcement to build his confidence and help him find his voice in the settings where he has trouble speaking. The therapist also works with parents to teach them how to apply these techniques in real-life settings. There is evidence that intensive treatments are most effective.
Some children may be also be prescribed anti-anxiety medication, if their selective mutism is severe, or medication may be added if they’re not making progress with behavioral therapy.

​To learn more about this article, we recommend you visit the link below:
https://childmind.org/article/quick-facts-on-selective-mutism/
​
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  • Home
  • About EFC
    • Meet the Staff
    • Meet the Board Members
    • Meet the Volunteers
  • Early Start
    • Early Start Resource Staff
    • Early Start Events
    • Newsletter-English
    • Newsletter-Español
    • Early Start (Intervención temprana)
    • Story time at our facebook page
  • Programs and Services
    • Annual Conference
    • Clubs
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • information & Events
    • Event Photos
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Topics A‑Z
    • Autism: What are the symptoms?
    • Anxiety log to find out why your child gets anxious
    • Angry Kids: Dealing With Explosive Behavior
    • Are Time Outs Harmful to Children?
    • 8 Ways to Build a Strong, Loving Bond With Your Autistic Child
    • Homemade bedtime schedule for kids can be a powerful visual reminder
    • Managing problem behavior at home
    • Social Challenges of Kids With Learning Problems
    • Quick Facts on Selective Mutism
    • 5 Tips for Talking to Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
    • Overcoming obstacles while traveling with people who have ASD
    • Did you know the signals of depression on kids/teenagers?
    • How to Make the Most of Your IEP meeting
    • Helping Kids Dare to Share/Ayude a los niños a atreverse a hablar
    • Advice for kids​/Consejos para niños ​
  • 2022 Newsletter
    • April 2022
  • 2021 Newsletter
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
  • Newsletter-English