How to Work With a Child With Selective Mutism

Children who are selectively mute cannot speak in some social situations, most notably school. They are able to speak normally in situations where they feel comfortable, such as at home. This inability to speak is caused by anxiety. These children usually want to speak, but their anxiety prevents them from doing so. Help for these children must be focused on reducing anxiety, not just on getting them to talk. School professionals should work in coordination with a mental health professional and the parents on developing a plan. Here are some suggestions for school professionals in working with a child with selective mutism.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Work together as a team. The team may include the child's teacher, the parents, school psychologist, counselor, and/or social worker, speech-language pathologist, and a mental health professional as a community.
2. Take steps to reduce the child's anxiety as soon as possible. If you know that a child with selective mutism is going to be in your class the following school year, it is a good idea to pull the team together at the end of the previous school year or a couple of days before school starts if you can, so that you have a good plan in place ahead of time.
3. Have the child visit her classroom a couple of days before school starts, if possible. Seeing the classroom and meeting the teacher before all the kids get there will help reduce her anxiety. As the teacher, you may even make a home visit so you can meet the child where she is most comfortable. The goal in this instance would not be to get the child to talk, but to get her feeling comfortable with you so that she will talk to you eventually.
4. Make your classroom a place where the child feels comfortable. Of course, this is something you want to do for all students, but it may take more time until the selectively mute child feels comfortable and secure. Routine and structure will help with this. Also, since the selectively mute child is anxious in general, he may prefer to observe activities before joining in.
5. Reinforce small attempts the child makes in order to communicate. Accept nonverbal means at first, such as nodding or shaking her head for yes or no, or pointing. When the child is doing these things consistently, you may try something just a little more difficult, such as having the child mouth the words but not vocalizing them. She may then be able to whisper words or write them down. Again, consult with the team on the best way to proceed.
6. Pair the child up with a buddy for various activities. Many selectively mute children are well-liked by their peers, even though they don't speak. Ideally, the parents can arrange play dates for the two of them, gradually inviting more children from the class over at a time. These children will often speak to a peer before speaking to the teacher or other adults.
7. Nonverbal activities such as puzzles or board games can provide non threatening opportunities for the child to talk. Artistic activities such as drawing, painting, or using modeling clay can also help relax the child and help him exhibit more spontaneous behavior.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that these children aren't being deliberately difficult or defiant. They really are too anxious to speak.
• Often reading assessment is difficult with selectively mute children. Children most likely be selectively mute are ones who are in their primary years of reading development, so this can present a considerable challenge. Sometimes a nonverbal assessment, such as pointing to letters, may work. Another approach that may work is having the parents videotape their child's reading performance at home so that the teacher can review it later.
• Never pressure a selectively mute child to speak, and don't punish this child for not speaking. Such tactics will only increase her anxiety.