In other words, a child with SM is unable to speak, not refusing to speak.Īutism: Because autistic children and children with SM both struggle with socialization, the disorders can sometimes be mistaken for each other. In reality, children with SM are extremely anxious and experience SM as an inability to speak even when they want to. Oppositional behavior: Selective mutism is sometimes mistaken for oppositional behavior because a child with SM might seem to be refusing to answer questions.
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Here are some of the most common issues SM can be confused with, and how to differentiate between them. Selective mutism can sometimes be mistaken for other things (and vice versa). While warming up to a new classroom environment can take time for many children, and being quiet in the first few weeks of school isn’t uncommon, a student who is nonverbal for more than a month may be cause for concern. Some children with SM will be able to smile and point to things that they want, while others will struggle even with this, developing a completely flat facial expression and not being able to use gestures. Although they’re normally able to talk with their parents, some might stop being able to once they are in their classroom (or even on school property). Some children with SM are able to speak to their classmates in their own homes, but many cannot. Many kids with SM enjoy school and have friends (or want to) they may interact nonverbally during playtime. Others will stay silent around peers, too. Sometimes children with SM will be able to talk to peers but unable to talk to their teacher.
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The disorder may look slightly different from child to child. (Note some children with SM struggle even with nonverbal communication and will not do this.)
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Children with SM may not be able to answer questions in class, even when they know the correct response, and they may struggle to ask for help or initiate conversations. Others might not even be able to manage a whisper, and might go the entire school year without speaking once. Kids who have selective mutism might only be able to speak in a whisper to teachers or peers. Or they may think that their child is shy, but not realize just how impairing their child’s anxiety really is. Parents might not realize their child has trouble speaking around other people since talking is not a problem at home. The disorder often isn’t discovered until a child first starts going to school and his teacher notices that something is wrong.
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Children with SM don’t necessarily look anxious they may stare back or look frozen when asked a question or prompted to engage.
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The disorder can be confusing to adults and painful for children, who experience so much anxiety that they actually feel unable to speak in certain situations, even though they can speak easily and comfortably other times, such as when they are at home with their parents. The most common setting for children with SM to struggle in is school. Selective mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder in which a child is unable to speak in certain settings or to certain people.