Children with elective mutism will have a marked, emotionally determined selectivity in speaking: they will speak competently in some situations but not at all in others. This disorder is usually linked with marked personality features social anxiety, withdrawal, sensitivity or resistance. It does not include, for example, specific speech and language disorders or transient mutism as part of separation anxiety in young children.
Children with selective mutism are able to speak - and do - in some social situations. They may use non-verbal strategies instead of speaking to communicate their needs, and may also behave assertively while remaining silent. Anxiety may make these children seem to be shy; sensitive; watchful; perfectionist; devious; stubborn; obstinate; or controlling, and may generate strong feelings of frustration and even anger in adults who care for and work with them.
Selective mutism most frequently arises between age three and five; it affects around 6-8 children per 1000; and slightly more girls than boys are affected. There is sometimes a progression from shyness to persistent selective mutism. Just over half have some difficulty with speech, language or literacy. The incidence of selective mutism seems to be higher in isolated and bilingual communities. Children are more likely to suffer selective mutism if they are prone to reacting to unfamiliar events with avoidance, accompanied by signs of wariness and fear. There may also be a family history of shyness or selective mutism, and also anxiety. Triggers for selective mutism include separation, loss or trauma; frequent moves or migration; awareness of difference; self-awareness of speech impairment; teasing; and admission to school or nursery.
Selective Mutism is maintained in children, or improvement is delayed , by factors such as:
Reproduced with permission from The Selective Mutism Resource Manual, Maggie Johnson & Alison Wintgens; 2001 Speechmark Publushing Ltd.
Families are getting busier and children are going to school younger. They may not be ready to separate from their family and talk with confidence. Some children are particularly sensitive to change and transfer their natural anxiety at this time to the expectation on them to speak. In short, everyone is under a bit more pressure now, and sometimes we are inadvertently making it harder for children to talk.
By expecting less while supporting more, we allow children to develop the confidence to take small steps forward. Examples include:
In February this year, Stoke Speaks Out sponsored a conference on selective mutism. It aimed to inform all those who work with children and young people about the nature of selective mutism, and to give them with the skills support children with this condition. The speaker was Maggie Johnson, a renowned expert in the field and co-author of The Selective Mutism Resource Manual. Around 70 people came to hear her speak about the causes and effects of selective mutism and useful ways of working with children and families where it is a problem.
The conference was judged to have been a great success. A broad variety of practitioners and managers from the children's workforce was represented. They all found Maggie Johnson to be an impressive speaker, inspiring them with her knowledge of and passion for the subject. Everyone felt that the conference had influenced them in making changes to how their working practices.
Following the conference, a plan for the City will be developed, aiming to involve all agencies and services who work with children. A new training module may be produced for future Stoke Speaks Out Level 3 training. The Stoke Speaks Out Library has also been resourced with copies of The Selective Mutism Resource Manual for loan across the City.
