Book Online Counselling and Treatment for Selective Mutism

Start a Session at Your Convenience

Selective mutism (SM) is a rare anxiety disorder where a child experiences the inability to speak in some situations or to certain people. It usually affects children, and the symptoms can appear at the age of 3-6. This anxiety disorder is different from a physical or cognitive disorder that causes an inability to speak and shyness. As this condition affects communication, it can negatively impact a child's experience and growth in school. Fortunately, effective remedial options are available.

Major Causes

People with selective mutism feel unable to speak due to intense anxiety and shyness. They may fear others judging, ridiculing, or ignoring them. Usually, people who develop this condition have a family history of anxiety disorders.

Genetics may play a role here. Having a particular set of genes may increase the chances of developing this anxiety disorder. These genes are then passed on to the upcoming generations, making them prone to the disease.

Coexisting neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, developmental delays, or sensory processing difficulties may be contributing factors in developing this illness.

Common Signs

The most significant sign is the difference in their ability to engage with different people. Some key signs of this condition may include:

• Talking at home but becoming silent in school, around strangers, or in certain situations where they are expected to talk.
• Inability to speak with their family members in presence of unfamiliar people such as distant relatives.
• Difficulty talking with peers in school.
• Using a non-verbal form of communication when in a social situation.
• Freezing facial expressions or making poker faces when they have to talk to someone outside their comfort zone.
• Some kids may suffer from stomach aches, headaches, and nausea when they have to attend a social event or go to school.
• Symptoms usually last for more than one month. This does not include the first month in a new place, such as a new school.
• Those comfortable with this disorder will be relaxed in a social situation, whereas others show physical signs such as awkward body language, stiffness, and no facial expressions.
• Children with this illness may develop habits of hiding, running away, crying, clinging to parents, and throwing tantrums when expected to talk.
• A confident person with this condition may be able to use gestures or a few words to communicate. However, more severely affected individuals may avoid any form of communication. Some might respond differently, like by writing things down, whispering, or speaking with a very faint voice.

Risk Factors

Because the disorder is relatively uncommon, risk factors for the condition are not well recognized. Many factors can contribute to someone developing this anxiety disorder. These factors include:

• Home environment: Children who watch their parents' nervous or avoidant behavior may learn to behave similarly. It may cause individuals to avoid circumstances that cause them anxiety, such as social situations. This avoidance can reinforce a dread of speaking.
• A speech or language disorder: Having a speech or language disorder can worsen anxiety and make speaking more stressful. Many children with SM also have expressive language disorder and come from bilingual families. While they do not cause SM, they can contribute to a child's anxiety with speaking. The child may feel more self-conscious about their speaking abilities. Criticism by others may distress them.
• Other mental health disorders: Mental health diseases such as general anxiety, depression, and panic disorders may worsen their difficulty in speaking.

How to Deal With Your Symptoms

A few effective options are available to treat selective mutism. However, they bring out the best results when diagnosed early. The goal of the treatment usually entails reducing anxiety in a social setting and reinforcing non avoidant behavior. Sometimes, the person may be helped with speaking skills.

• Psychotherapy: This type of anxiety disorder can make it difficult for people to express emotions and needs and socialize with others. It can lead to isolation and depression and worsen their anxiety. As a result, they may benefit from emotional health support. Psychotherapy can help children and adults overcome their fear of speaking. It can also help with comorbid mental health issues, including social anxiety.
• Ritual sound approach: A technique in which the counselor helps a child to produce sounds and movements similar to speech. They are taught to move their lips and tongues to mimic as if they were speaking. They may begin with nonspeech sounds like blowing or coughing and progress to syllables and, ultimately, words.
• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAL): In AAL, kids learn how to communicate via signs or gestures. It can help a child communicate at school in the short term, but it might not be a long-term answer.
• Medication: Medication may help in severe situations when other techniques have failed to improve the situation.

Coping with the symptoms: If you have a child who suffers from this condition, here are some tips to help you take care of them:

• It is not a choice: Understand that your children aren't being silent to mess with you or being disobedient. They have severe anxiety, and their body is unable to communicate at all.
• Collaborate with Supervisors: Inform the teachers and other supervisors about your kid's condition. Teachers may misunderstand their silence as being troublesome. Tell them not to force children to speak or punish them for silence, but instead praise them and create a welcoming environment for them.
• Acknowledge their efforts privately: It is crucial to praise the child when they try to communicate aloud, even when it is not perfect. However, do it discreetly to avoid embarrassment.
• No questions: When your child has frozen or cannot speak because of their anxiety, do not question or force them to talk. Pushing them further might only increase their fear of speaking.
• No bribing: They have a condition and may occasionally be able to talk vocally. However, offering gifts in exchange for talking is like paying a million dollars to a blind man to drive.
• Treatment takes time: If your kid has a co-existing mental health problem, such as depression or an anxiety disorder, or a learning disability that impacts their ability to communicate, the length and complexity of the remedial program may be affected. The process may take longer for an adult because of the condition's deep-seated behaviors.

Get Treatment From a Licensed Therapist Who’s Right For You

Early diagnosis and treatment may result in a better prognosis. As a parent, if your child shows signs of SM, visit your healthcare provider. Without a diagnosis, this condition may not get any better. Your child can be best served by a therapist who has experience treating anxiety issues in children. Remember that therapy only works when the therapist and patient can communicate effectively. Thus, choosing the correct therapist may take some time.

Schedule a Virtual Psychotherapy Appointment with a Counsellor Today

There is no doubt that networking and communication skills are vital for success in almost all careers. If selective mutism is not treated, those affected can have a hard time throughout their life. From making friends in school to finding a job, their life can be full of anxious silence.

A therapist can help increase self-confidence. They can also teach people affected coping mechanisms and techniques for effective communication with different people and for various circumstances.

With Docvita, you can book a therapy session with experts from the comfort of your home. You may feel comfortable and secure if you are with your family and at home. It can encourage you to open up.

Book a therapy session with an expert therapist with Docvita.