Do I have a communication disorder?
A child with a communication disorder has trouble communicating with others. The cause may be biological or environmental, such as being exposed to lead. Some common symptoms are not speaking at all and having trouble expressing words. A speech-language pathologist often treats a communication disorder in a child.
Is selective mutism a communication disorder?
Selective mutism is defined in the DSM-V as a psychiatric disorder. However, selective mutism is also a disorder of communication. For that reason, a psychologist or psychiatrist must work together with a speech-language pathologist to provide treatment for a child with selective mutism.
Is selective mutism a mental illness?
Selective mutism is a severe anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations, such as with classmates at school or to relatives they do not see very often. It usually starts during childhood and, if left untreated, can persist into adulthood.
Is selective mutism a learning disability?
Some professionals erroneously view Selective Mutism as a variant of autism or an indication of severe learning disabilities. For most children who are truly affected by Selective Mutism, this is completely wrong and inappropriate!
Does selective mutism go away?
Selective mutism typically does not go away on its own, and in fact can lead to worsened anxiety and social difficulty if not addressed.
Can a person grow out of selective mutism?
Can kids grow out of SM? Experts don’t know how many children with selective mutism will grow out of the disorder. But what we do know is that treating it becomes much harder the older a child is, so it is extremely important not to put off treatment.
At what age is selective mutism diagnosis?
Symptoms of selective mutism usually become noticeable between the ages of two and four years. However, the diagnosis may not be apparent until the child has entered school or other social situations. Functioning in school and social situations may be impaired.