Selective mutism is not on the autism spectrum and it does not mean your child is autistic when they are selective mute.
However some kids can have both ADHD and selective mutism at the same time.
Some signs that a child might have selective mutism are the child only speaks when at home but not at school, daycare etc.
Another sign that the child might have selective mutism is that they whisper to teachers or other people they are not comfortable being with.
The signs of selective mutism are.
The child will not speak in certain places or situations, such as in class or in front of certain people but will speak at home.
Not speaking gets in the way of school, work, friendships, or relationships.
The difficulty talking lasts for at least 1 month.
Children with selective mutism will communicate in uncomfortable situations by either whispering or writing out what they are trying to communicate.
When at home the child will communicate by talking normally.
Kids whisper when talking because they have social anxiety and have selective mutism which makes them uncomfortable speaking in social situation.
People with selective mutism can whisper and it's common for a child or person to speak by whispering when away from home such as in school to a teacher but they will speak just fine at home.
Kids with selective mutism can talk and do talk when at home or around people they are comfortable talking to.
This is the reason it's called selective mutism as the child selects who they are mute with.
I was selective mute as a kid and still am today and when I was a kid I would talk fine at home but when in school or around other people I would not talk.
I could speak but I just was uncomfortable speaking around others other than when I was at home.
The triggers for selective mutism includes genetics, speech and language disorders, low self esteem, psychological disorders, anxiety, family history of anxiety.
Common causes of selective mutisim include.
An anxiety disorder.
Poor family relationships.
Untreated psychological issues.
Self-esteem problems.
Problems with sound processing.
A speech or language problem, such as stuttering.
Family history of anxiety disorders.
A traumatic experience.
Selective mutism is a conditio in which a child can't speak in certain settings, but can speak fine in others.
For example, a child with selective mutism may not be able to speak at school, but can speak with no problem at home.
It is called selective mutism because the child is only mute in select situations.
Selective mutism is a rare childhood condition.
The signs of selective mutism are.
The child will not speak in certain places or situations, such as in class or in front of certain people but will speak at home.
Not speaking gets in the way of school, work, friendships, or relationships.
The difficulty talking lasts for at least 1 month.
Some health professionals falsely view selective mutism as a form of autism or a learning disability.
Children with learning disabilities or autism may demonstrate symptoms of the disorder, but selective mutism is not commensurate to an autism or learning disability diagnosis.
Selective mutism and autism are the two conditions more appropriately associated with restricted speech, even though ADHD symptoms may mimic these illnesses.
The most research-supported treatment for selective mutism is behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Behavioral therapy approaches, including gradual exposures, contingency management, successive approximations/ shaping, and stimulus fading, are successful in the treatment of childhood anxiety.
With appropriate handling and treatment, most children are able to overcome selective mutism.
But the older they are when the condition is diagnosed, the longer it will take.
When children are unable to speak around certain people or in certain settings, they may have an anxiety disorder called selective mutism (SM).
It is common for kids with SM to be very chatty at home with family but silent at school.
Parents typically start noticing signs of SM when a child is three or four years old.