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Treatment. Treatment for selective mutism consists of two primary domains: nonmedication- and medication-based interventions. Within the nonmedication-based or psychotherapeutic approaches, psychodynamic therapy, behavioral therapy, and family therapy are among the most common.
What are the best treatments for selective mutism?
Treating selective mutism
- Cognitive behavioural therapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps a person focus on how they think about themselves, the world and other people, and how their perception of these things affects ...
- Behavioural therapy. ...
- Techniques. ...
- Medicine. ...
What can I do to cure my selective mutism?
What causes selective mutism Experts regard selective mutism as a fear (phobia) of talking to certain people. The cause is not always clear, but it's known to be associated with anxiety. The child will usually have a tendency to anxiety and have difficulty taking everyday events in their stride. Find out more about anxiety in children.
What can cause selective mutism?
Who can diagnose selective mutism? Testing for Selective Mutism Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about how and when your child talks. Your child should also see a psychologist or psychiatrist to see if he has a problem like anxiety. A speech-language pathologist, or SLP, can test your child's speech and language. Click to see full answer.
Who can diagnose selective mutism?
Is selective mutism a DSM-5 diagnosis?
According to the DSM-V, Selective Mutism is a childhood disorder typified by an inability to speak in certain circumstances. Specifically, it is a consistent failure to speak in certain social situations where there is a natural expectation of speaking (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Is selective mutism a psychiatric disorder?
Selective mutism is a rare psychiatric condition primarily occurring during childhood. It is characterized by the failure to speak in certain social situations. The ability to speak and understand spoken language is not impaired, and may be exhibited in more familiar environments.
When was selective mutism added to the DSM?
Diagnosis. Although selective mutism is believed to have its roots in anxiety, it was not classified as an anxiety disorder until the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) published in 2013.
Which disorder category does selective mutism fall under?
Selective mutism falls within the category of Anxiety Disorders (APA, 2013, pp. 195–197). According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; APA, 2013, p.
Is selective mutism a disability?
One disability not only hidden but most frequently overlooked is Selective Mutism. According to the SMart Center: “Selective Mutism is a complex childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child's inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social settings, such as school.
What is the root cause of selective mutism?
The cause, or causes, are unknown. Most experts believe that children with the condition inherit a tendency to be anxious and inhibited. Most children with selective mutism have some form of extreme social fear (phobia). Parents often think that the child is choosing not to speak.
What page is selective mutism in DSM?
0) According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), selective mutism is diagnosed in individuals who fail to speak when expected to during social interaction.
Can a speech therapist diagnose selective mutism?
Diagnosis of selective mutism is mostly on the basis of the patient's clinical history. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) plays a key role in the diagnosis of the condition. A child who shows signs of selective mutism should be taken to an SLP, apart from a pediatrician and a child psychologist.
Is selective mutism a language disorder?
Selective mutism is defined in the DSM-V as a psychiatric disorder. However, selective mutism is also a disorder of communication. For that reason, a psychologist or psychiatrist must work together with a speech-language pathologist to provide treatment for a child with selective mutism.
Is selective mutism an anxiety disorder in DSM 5?
The DSM-5 classifies Selective Mutism as an anxiety disorder. Children with Selective Mutism are frequently not diagnosed with the disorder until they enter school at around the age of five. The DSM-5 does not link Selective Mutism as the consequence of trauma, neglect or abuse.
Does selective mutism qualify for special education?
How can a child with selective mutism get special education support? Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children with documented disabilities, including those with SM, may be eligible to receive special education support and services.
Is selective mutism a trauma response?
Selective Mutism is therefore a symptom. Children are rarely “just mute.” Emphasis needs to be on causes of the mutism and propagating factors of mutism. Studies have shown no evidence that the cause of Selective Mutism is related to abuse, neglect or trauma.
What is mutism in psychiatry?
Mutism is defined as an inability or unwillingness to speak, resulting in the absence or marked paucity of verbal output. It is a common presenting symptom seen in various disorders, including psychiatric as well as medical disorders.
Is selective mutism an anxiety disorder in DSM-5?
The DSM-5 classifies Selective Mutism as an anxiety disorder. Children with Selective Mutism are frequently not diagnosed with the disorder until they enter school at around the age of five. The DSM-5 does not link Selective Mutism as the consequence of trauma, neglect or abuse.
Is selective mutism a form of social anxiety?
Selective mutism can be considered as a variant of social anxiety disorder because of the significant overlap in symptoms profile as well as treatment response.
What happens in the brain with selective mutism?
Brain Studies Studies show that children with selective mutism have a low threshold of excitability in a portion of their brain called the amygdala, which explains most of the behavioral issues these children exhibit. The amygdala senses potential danger by processing signals from the sympathetic nervous system.
Who is at Risk of Developing Selective Mutism DSM-5 312.23 (F94.0)?
Additionally, there aren’t any known variations in prevalence of the disorder among different sexes or races; however, the disorder is more likely to develop in young children than any other age group. Furthermore, the following are possible risk and predictive factors of selective mutism:
Does Norma speak in Orange is the New Black?
Norma Romano from Orange is the New Black: Norma never speaks in the show, with the exception of a couple outbursts that always shock the rest of the characters. Instead, she communicates using a pen and a notepad—a likely action taken by those with selective mutism. Even in silence, Norma proves to be a loyal, committed friend throughout the show.
Can selective mutism cause anxiety?
An individual diagnosed with selective mutism may also be very shy, be fearful of social embarrassment or social isolation, be clingy and temperamental, or abnormally negative. There may also be an associated communication disorder and almost always an anxiety disorder, such as ( and most commonly) social anxiety disorder.
What is selective mutism?
A childhood disorder, Selective Mutism is distinguished by the failure to be able to speak in particular situations, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).*. When the child is in social situations, such as the classroom, where he is expected to speak, he is unable to do so.
How to tell if a child has selective mutism?
One of the signs of Selective Mutism is the child who is usually talkative at home with his family, but changes his speaking to words with one syllable and utters or gestures in order to communicate.
When do children with selective mutism enter school?
Children with Selective Mutism are frequently not diagnosed with the disorder until they enter school at around the age of five.
What is selective mutism?
Selective mutism is in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fifth Edition, or DSM-5. Doctors and others use the DSM-5 to help diagnose social and mental problems. In the DSM-5, a child with selective mutism may: Have an anxiety disorder. Be very shy.
How do you know if your child has selective mutism?
If your child has selective mutism, you may notice that: She will not speak at times when she should, like in school. This will happen all of the time in that situation. Your child will talk at other times and in other places. Not speaking gets in the way of school, work, or friendships.
Why isn't the first month of school included in selective mutism?
This does not include the first month of school because children may be shy and not talk right away. Your child can speak the language needed at that time. A child who does not know the language being used may not talk. This is not selective mutism.
Why do some children not talk?
Some children are shy and do not like to talk to people they don’t know. They usually start talking when they feel more comfortable. However, some children will not talk at certain times, no matter what. This is selective mutism. It is often frustrating for the child and others. Help is available.
Can a child talk to the SLP?
Some children will not talk to the SLP. If that happens, the SLP may ask if you have a video of your child talking.
What Is Selective Mutism?
Selective mutism (SM) is a childhood anxiety disorder characterized by an inability to speak or communicate in certain settings. The condition is usually first diagnosed in childhood. Children who are selectively mute fail to speak in specific social situations, such as at school or in the community.
What happens if you don't catch selective mutism early?
When selective mutism is not caught early, there is a risk that your child will become used to not speaking, and as a result, being silent will become a way of life and more difficult to change.
When was selective mutism first used?
The use of the term "selective" was adopted in 1994 , prior to which the disorder was known as "elective mutism.". The change was made to emphasize that children with selective mutism are not choosing to be silent, but rather are too afraid to speak.
How to help a child with speech problems?
Instead, choose activities that don't involve speech such as reading, art, or doing puzzles . Reward progress but avoid punishment.
What is the term for a lack of movement or movement when in feared situations?
Fidgeting, eye contact avoidance, lack of movement or lack of expression when in feared situations
Can a child with selective mutism stop talking?
Finally, a lack of speech must interfere with your child's educational or social functioning. Children who stop talking temporarily after immigrating to a foreign country or experiencing a traumatic event would not be diagnosed with selective mutism.
Is selective mutism a good prognosis?
In general, there is a good prognosis for selective mutism. Unless there is another problem contributing to the condition, children generally function well in other areas and do not need to be placed in special education classes.
Is there a treatment for selective mutism?
Treating Selective Mutism. There are no official treatment guidelines yet, but behavioral therapy has garnered the most support in the scientific literature. There is also some published studies supporting SSRIs, such as Prozac or Zoloft, and these medications are generally used as an adjunctive to behavioral treatment.
Does selective mutism continue?
However, the disorder can— and does—continue into middle childhood and beyond. Selective mutism was, until the DSM-III, termed "elective mutism" and was theorized to represent some form of passive-aggressive oppositionality or a child's attempts to manipulate adults.
Is selective mutism a new disorder?
As the "new" anxiety disorder, selective mutism is sure to begin to attract much more attention from mental health providers, researchers, and the general population.
Is selective mutism a form of social phobia?
Currently, selective mutism is considered an early and pernicious form of social phobia.
Why is selective mutism not diagnosed?
Selective mutism should not be diagnosed if the individual’s failure to speak is due solely to a lack of knowledge of, or comfort with, the spoken language required in the social situation. It is also not diagnosed if the disturbance is accounted for by embarrassment related to having a communication disorder (e.g., stuttering) or if it occurs exclusively during a pervasive developmental disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychotic disorder. Instead of communicating by standard verbalization, children with this disorder may communicate by gestures, monosyllabic, short, or monotone utterances, or in an altered voice.
What is selective mutism?
Selective mutism is a type of anxiety disorder whose main distinguishing characteristic is the persistent failure to speak in specific social situations (e.g., at school or with playmates) where speaking is expected, despite speaking in other situations.
What are the characteristics of selective mutism?
Associated features of selective mutism may include excessive shyness, fear of social embarrassment, social isolation and withdrawal, clinging, compulsive traits, negativism, temper tantrums, or controlling or oppositional behavior, particularly at home . There may be severe impairment in social and school functioning.
How long does selective mutism last?
Selective mutism interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication, and in order for it to be diagnosed, it must last for at least 1 month and is not limited to the first month of school (during which many children may be shy and reluctant to speak).