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Selective Mutism - any advice?

Pageant

Hello everyone,

My eight year old daughter is soon to be assessed for ASD and I expect there will be a diagnosis of ASD/Aspergers.

One of the most significant problems she faces is selective mutism.  She is terrified of talking to people she doesn't know well (i.e. everyone except parents, brother and one friend she made at her old school).  Even Grandma/Grandad have trouble getting her to speak, although she speaks freely with her immediate family.  Everything I've read suggests it's an anxiety response and she is extremely self-conscious in general.  With us though, she's a different girl - happy, funny and giggly a lot of the time.  She'll occasionally be like this with others, but it's fleeting and never seems to last.

Anyone got any ideas for how to help?  I've read a lot about selective mutism unrelated to autism, but the strategies there suggest something more of a pure phobia about speaking.  With my daughter, I think it's different - it's anxiety about social communication (not surprisingly)...  I'm worried it could get worse, but don't know how to stem the tide of any regression (mercifully, she just recently started talking to her childminder again who she goes to once a week, but I've been worried there's been a general regressive trend lately, aside from this).

Any ideas would be very welcome.  Autism-related literature on the subject is thin on the ground - or I'm looking in the wrong places....

Parents

  • Hi,

    I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on statementing for SM as we never got one. However, my eldest daughter who has ASD was diagnosed with SM when she was about 4. We had a few appointments with a speech therapist at the begining who diagnosed her and explained what we should do. I also bought an excellent book called How to help your child with selective mutism (available for about £13 from amazon). We followed this advice at home and when out and about. Like you, the school couldn't follow the program specifically but they were also patient and supportive. It took a while - well over a year or two for us, but it really worked. Except for situations when her anxieties and ASD get in the way, she now talks in most situations including her large school assemblies (in front of about 600 kids and adults). Although she has many other anxieties and phobias, SM doesn't seem to be an issue anymore for her. I know we were very fortunate that she was diagnosed early on and it is much more complicated when children are older, but if you haven't come across that book, then I'd really recommend reading it and following the advice given. There may even be more up to date ones now?

    I know someone has posted about having no literature about SM in ASD children but in our situation it didn't seem to matter too much. I'm not saying it wouldn't have helped (I would love to see some research done about SM in children with ASD,) it's just that that program worked for my daughter who has ASD and SM.

    I hope you get the help and support your child needs. 

      

Reply

  • Hi,

    I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on statementing for SM as we never got one. However, my eldest daughter who has ASD was diagnosed with SM when she was about 4. We had a few appointments with a speech therapist at the begining who diagnosed her and explained what we should do. I also bought an excellent book called How to help your child with selective mutism (available for about £13 from amazon). We followed this advice at home and when out and about. Like you, the school couldn't follow the program specifically but they were also patient and supportive. It took a while - well over a year or two for us, but it really worked. Except for situations when her anxieties and ASD get in the way, she now talks in most situations including her large school assemblies (in front of about 600 kids and adults). Although she has many other anxieties and phobias, SM doesn't seem to be an issue anymore for her. I know we were very fortunate that she was diagnosed early on and it is much more complicated when children are older, but if you haven't come across that book, then I'd really recommend reading it and following the advice given. There may even be more up to date ones now?

    I know someone has posted about having no literature about SM in ASD children but in our situation it didn't seem to matter too much. I'm not saying it wouldn't have helped (I would love to see some research done about SM in children with ASD,) it's just that that program worked for my daughter who has ASD and SM.

    I hope you get the help and support your child needs. 

      

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