Don’t tell me to speak!
By Petro Potgieter ST10086633
Selective mutism
What is selective mutism?
Children under five are most likely to experience selective mutism. Unknown are the
reason or causes. The majority of specialists think that children who have the illness
inherit a propensity for anxiety and inhibition (Medline, 2022). Most kids with
selective mutism experience a severe social anxiety in some way.
Parents frequently assume that a child's silence is a deliberate decision. However, in
the majority of situations, the youngster is genuinely mute in certain circumstances
(Medline, 2022). A family history of anxiety disorders, excessive shyness, or
selective mutism may raise the probability of such issues in certain affected children
(Medline, 2022).
Mutism is not the same as this condition. The youngster with selective mutism can
comprehend and talk, but they are unable to speak in some situations or
surroundings. Mute children are mute at all times (Medline, 2022).
Myths of selective mutism:
Myth 1: Trauma or a deep, dark secret have caused a child to become selectively
mute.
It's a prevalent misconception that children who are selectively mute are silent
because they experienced a terrible trauma (Medline, 2022). Typically, this is untrue.
In actuality, children with selective mutism experience trauma at the same rates as
the general population (Medline, 2022).
Myth 2: Kids with selective mutism are bashful and will get over their social
communication issues.
Being shy is not the same as selective mutism. Many young people are timid. Shy
children often get more comfortable in unfamiliar circumstances with time (Medline,
2022).
Myth 3: Children who are selectively mute need speech treatment because they
have speech issues.
Many children with selective mutism do not, but others do have speech and
language issues (Medline, 2022). Because it is challenging to evaluate a kid who
refuses to talk to unknown people, it is challenging to properly comprehend the link
between speech and language impairments and selective mutism (Medline, 2022).
Myth 4: Children that are selectively mute are merely being manipulative and defiant.
Children with selective mutism were stigmatised for a long time as rebellious and
disobedient (Medline, 2022). Since it was believed that youngsters were actively
refusing to talk, selective mutism was actually referred to as elective mutism for a
very long time (Medline, 2022).
Myth number five: Autism includes selective mutism.
Selective mutism and autism are not the same illness, despite the fact that some
individuals mistake them for one another (Medline, 2022). The symptoms of autism
and selective mutism may resemble one another; when worried, children with
selective mutism frequently react by avoiding eye contact, displaying a blank face,
and refraining from vocal communication (Medline, 2022).
What I did not know about anxiety disorders:
It's vital to be aware that there are a variety of therapies available, and that
individuals with anxiety disorders typically respond quite well to those treatments.
Reference
Medline plus. (2022). Selective mutism: Medlineplus medical encyclopedia.
MedlinePlus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001546.htm#:~:text=Selective
%20mutism%20is%20most%20common,extreme%20social%20fear
%20(phobia).
