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Selective Mutism

Kate Kestrel

Does anyone on here have Selective Mutism? My son has struggled with Selective Mutism (in educational settings) for about 16 years and it’s just struck me that we’ve never had a conversation with another person who has Selective Mutism. I’m new(ish) to this community so I just thought I’d ask if anyone else has gone through their whole education with Selective Mutism. And also if you have managed to overcome it - how did you do that? 
We’re basically just interested in hearing about other people’s experience of this. Thanks Sunflower

Parents

  • I had selective mutism at Infant school. The shock of starting school resulted in a 3 month period of total mutism at school. At home I continued to be talkative. I had shorter episodes after that, usually when I was stressed by being asked to read out loud. I often became mute when asked questions by adults that I did not know, up to around 9 or 10. In adult life I have spoken in conferences and at my place of work to as many as 250 people. I cannot say I ever enjoyed it, however.

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  • I had selective mutism at Infant school. The shock of starting school resulted in a 3 month period of total mutism at school. At home I continued to be talkative. I had shorter episodes after that, usually when I was stressed by being asked to read out loud. I often became mute when asked questions by adults that I did not know, up to around 9 or 10. In adult life I have spoken in conferences and at my place of work to as many as 250 people. I cannot say I ever enjoyed it, however.

Children
  • in reply to Martin

    Thank you for sharing this. It’s very inspiring that you are managing to speak in public now to so many people - that’s a huge achievement for someone who once experienced Selective Mutism. I’ve read this to my son and it’s so helpful for him to hear of people moving on from their Selective Mutism. It’s hard to maintain optimism when you’ve struggled for so many years with it. Thanks Sun with face