Areas of Specialization - Children and Adolescents
Selective Mutism
Selective Mutism is a disorder in
childhood that is characterized
by the total lack of speech in at
least one situation despite the
ability to speak in other settings.
These children have the ability
to speak and understand language,
develop age appropriate skills,
and function normally at home with
most family members. However, selectively
mute children vary considerably
in their social interactions. For
example, certain children with selective
mutism remain silent while playing
with peers but seemingly enjoy socializing
with their playmates. Others will
whisper only to a close friend in
classroom and communicate to the
teacher and other children by having
this friend speak for them or interpret
their gestures, facial expressions
and body language. Many psychologists
view selective mutism as a variant
of social anxiety, consisting of
a fear of humiliation or embarrassment
that others will judge them negatively.
The development of selective mutism
can typically be explained by parents,
siblings and other family members
initially attempting to help a shy,
anxious child by talking for them.
Thus, these family members inadvertently
support the child's refusal to speak.
This usually is not considered problematic
until the child enters school and
does not function verbally in class
and most social situations outside
of school. As a result, the overprotectiveness
of family members has entrenched
a pattern of nonverbal communication
and social withdrawal by the child.
Frequently when the selectively
mute child is encouraged to speak
for themselves, they have tantrums
and engage in defiant, oppositional
behavior.
Describe
treatment >> |
