Selective Mutism

Selective Mutism, once referred to as Elective Mutism, is a condition where children speak comfortably at home or with close family members but struggle to speak in other settings, such as at school or with unfamiliar people. This condition is often associated with social anxiety, where children feel intense fear of being judged negatively by others for speaking.

Image of a little girl holding both her hand over her mouth, representing selective mutism

What the research says about selective mutism

Understanding Selective Mutism

Selective Mutism is a condition where children speak comfortably at home or with close family but struggle to communicate in other settings, like school or with unfamiliar people. This condition often stems from social anxiety, where children fear negative judgement when speaking. Unlike shyness, selective mutism is a deep-rooted fear that can affect a child’s ability to participate socially and academically.

The condition usually appears around age three. However, it’s often not diagnosed until later, sometimes in primary school. Many people mistakenly think that children will eventually “grow out of it.” In reality, improvements tend to occur slowly, or not at all, if left untreated. Early detection by preschool workers, early childhood carers, and speech therapists is crucial in ensuring the child receives appropriate help before the mutism becomes more established.

Recent research shows that selective mutism is a form of social anxiety. As a result, treatments like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) have become more widely used. CBT gradually exposes children to anxiety-provoking social situations, helping them improve their nonverbal and verbal communication skills.

At our practice, Child Clinical Psychologists have extensive experience in treatment for selective mutism. They offer consultations to children and families across Australia. The Selective Mutism Clinic in St Leonards, Sydney, is affiliated with our practice, providing both in-person and telehealth consultations.

 

The Importance of Early Intervention

Addressing selective mutism early is critical. If untreated, it can affect a child’s academic and social development. Though some children find it difficult to speak in unfamiliar settings, the key to successful treatment lies in tailored approaches, like CBT, which focus on reducing anxiety.

 

Selective Mutism in the Media

Our Selective Mutism Clinic has been featured in several media outlets, helping raise awareness of the condition and the available treatment options:

Effective Treatment for Selective Mutism

Over the years, treatments for selective mutism have evolved. CBT has proven effective, helping children overcome anxiety and gain confidence in social situations. We offer treatment for selective mutism through both in-person and telehealth consultations, tailoring our approach to meet your child’s needs.

Our Psychologists, highly qualified with Masters or Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology, offer treatment for selective mutism using evidence-based approaches. They use Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), the gold standard for many psychological issues, alongside other effective treatments like Mindfulness and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).