Anyone have a child with Selective Mutism?
I specialized in Selective Mutism in Collage. I majored in Spec Ed Emotionally handicapped. The main thing that was really forced into my brain was not to force the child to speak. If and when they are ready they will learn to trust you. I took four years of sign language during collage and continued after to improve my skills. I learned that a child who refuses to speak verbally will sometimes communicate in other ways. Learning ASL gave me an avenue to teach an alternative form of communication (this also came in very handy when five years ago I gave birth to a deaf child). A good therapist can sometimes discover why the child is finding it so hard to trust but sometimes there just isn't a reason. Be patient with your child. Encourage him or her in every way. Let her know that she is loved and excepted for who she is and someday she will open up and sing like an angel.
Selective Mutism?
Selective mutism is pretty rare--I work at a mental health agency, we have thousands of clients and we have had only one client with selective mutism. Try and see a doctor; you might have some anxiety that can be treated with medication.
Does anyone know how to treat selective mutism?
I have a pupil in my class who has selective mutism - it's quite hard to 'treat' as such, but the younger they are when you start, the better chance you have of geting results. The child has an anxiety of talking, usually around adults, normally 'cos they believe the adult will judge them in a negative way. There will usually be 2-4 friends that the child trusts and will talk to them - they end up communicating for the child. These friends are the tool to getting the child to speak more openly. I have asked them to read together, or work together with the child, who 9 times out of 10 will then end up speaking to them. As a teacher, over a period of time, I edge myself closer to the children, especially the selective mute child, so he knows I'm there and that I can hear him - he then realises that I'm not passing any judgement so continues to talk. Recently, I have begun commenting on what I've heard him reading, but in a really casual way so he's relaxed and not imtimidated by what I'm saying. I could go on forever, but it'll be quicker if you just visit the websites below!
How can I treat Selective Mutism?
I have this disorder. Well, actually, I wouldn't call it a disorder. I would call it an issue. Selective Mutism is when someone is very shy in a certain place where they are expected to communicate or speak, such as school. I am so shy at school and I KNOW I have Selective Mutism because I looked at all symptoms and I have almost all of them. I am afraid of being introduced to people, I am afraid of being teased or criticised, I HATE being the center of attention, I do not like bringing attention to myself, I'm a perfectionist (I hate making mistakes), I have shy bladder syndrome (which means I can't pee in a public bathroom), and I am afraid of eating in front of others. I hate having this. It's very hard to make friends because I'm afraid to. Does anyone know of any treatments because this actually can cause very bad things to happen like: It can worsen my anxiety. I can get depression. It can cause Social Isolation I may have a poor self-esteem and self-confidence. I may quit school (very bad. i dont want to!) Underachievements I may start drugs or alchohol (I rreeeeaaaallllyyy don't want to!) It may cause me to have thoughts of suicide or I may even commit suicide. I'm only 12 years old. I really don't want to have to worry about this anymore. Any help??!!!
Movies about selective mutism?
The movie doesn't have to be focussed on it. It just has to have the character undergo a traumatic experience and stop talking. Also, it would be good if there was a moment of recovery shown. i can not seem to find any movies. They can have boys or girls, youth to adult. I'm doing a project on elective mutism, and it would be great to show some examples in movies. What i mean when i say the movie doesn't have to be focussed on it; an example i have is in the movie gladiator, when maximus' family is murdered, he doesn't speak to anyone for a duration of the movie, until he is in the arena and starts shouting. another movie i have looked into is 'speak'. so if you have any movies that would be really great.
If you know of someone who was diagnosed with selective mutism as a child, and if the experts were unable to accurately measure their IQ, how did they fair as an adult? At what age were they able to overcome challenges to become an “successful”adult?
I was diagnosed at 7 years old, and normally people with selective mutism actually have an above average intelligence! I have been able to overcome many challenges as well, throughout almost every age. It's almost like learning how to cope in a world filled with language, when you don't speak. But we do manage. Child psychiatrists and counsellors are highly advisable also. But as far as things go, I have been successful, I have qualifications and can function well day to day. Only in severe cases this may be an issue, but reaching out to experts and therapists, as I mentioned, is a must.
What does it feel like to have selective mutism?
I’ve had selective mutism for as long as I can remember and I’m still really bad at explaining this.A lot of people are under the misconception that my talking is based on where I am, but it’s actually based on who I’m with. If I’m at school, but only family are around, I can talk just like I could if I was at home with only family around.But, if I’m at home and there is someone from school around, I don’t talk - even if there is family around who I usually can talk to. That one person affects everything. Does that make sense?As for why I don’t talk. I don’t really know. Something deep within me is telling me that bad things will happen if I talk to those people. I know it’s stupid and irrational, but when I’m in that situation, reasonable thoughts don’t make much sense to me.Physically, I can talk to them, and sometimes I do, but it causes me a ridiculous amount of anxiety. It’s generally easier to just avoid talking at all. I’m not in a constant state of anxiety when I’m at school, usually I can function pretty normally. The anxiety comes in when I know I should be talking, or when I am forced to talk.The main reason this is so hard for me to explain is because this is my normal. I’ve forgotten how it feels to be able to talk freely all the time so it’s hard to pinpoint the exact differences between the way I feel about talking and the way most other people feel about talking.Regardless, I hope all that made some sense. I’ll answer any questions you have if you’re still confused.
Selective Mutism-help me plz?
I'm a almost 14 years old girl that has very severe Selective Mutism, & i was wondering if anyone that has gone through Selective Mutism can give me any advise??that has pretty much beaten it? thanks.