How Speech Pathologists Work With Children Who Have Selective Mutism
Unless you know a child who has suffered from it, whenever you first hear the term “selective mutism” you can be forgiven for not being sure what it is, but if you ask speech pathologists, they will tell you it is a complex condition that is not always recognised easily.
Often, when the parents of a child who has selective mutism notice their child not speaking in certain situations they think it is because they are “shy”, or “the quiet type”. Indeed many children without selective mutism show those traits, but, as the child grows and their reluctance to speak becomes more apparent, it may be time to seek the advice of a speech pathologist.
For those reading this who wish to learn a little more about selective mutism in children, read on and we will explain what it is, what its symptoms are, and how speech pathologists treat it.
What Is Selective Mutism?
Have you ever been confronted with something that scared you so much that you were frozen with fear and rendered speechless? A large spider, a snake, or a mugger brandishing a knife, perhaps? All very unpleasant scenarios and enough to cause a flurry of psychological and physiological responses, including choosing to remain completely silent.