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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,

    My 14 year old twin son has been diagnosed with Aspergers but I believe that he may be suffering from Selective mutism as well. He won't speak in certain classes voluntarily, he won't speak at any of his clubs he goes to especially the leaders and refuses to speak to drivers on public transport or in shops when he needs to get anything. This has been going on for a number of years well before he was diagnosed. He was diagnosed with Auditory processing disorder first when he was 10 and it has been going on since he was a toddler. He was a late talker and had speech and language therapy for a few years. However, when asking him if he chooses not to speak or if it is because he feels nervous speaking he says yes to both. So if he is choosing NOT to speak, can this be classed as selective mutism?

    Thanks

    Jane

Reply

  • Hi,

    My 14 year old twin son has been diagnosed with Aspergers but I believe that he may be suffering from Selective mutism as well. He won't speak in certain classes voluntarily, he won't speak at any of his clubs he goes to especially the leaders and refuses to speak to drivers on public transport or in shops when he needs to get anything. This has been going on for a number of years well before he was diagnosed. He was diagnosed with Auditory processing disorder first when he was 10 and it has been going on since he was a toddler. He was a late talker and had speech and language therapy for a few years. However, when asking him if he chooses not to speak or if it is because he feels nervous speaking he says yes to both. So if he is choosing NOT to speak, can this be classed as selective mutism?

    Thanks

    Jane

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