What is psychogenic mutism?

What is psychogenic mutism?

What Is Psychogenic Mutism? Mutism can be caused by a number of conditions, including deafness, speech delays, and developmental disabilities. But psychogenic mutism occurs when someone—usually a child—who is capable of speaking stops speaking.

What causes selective mutism in a child?

Researchers are still learning about factors that can lead to selective mutism, such as: An anxiety disorder. Poor family relationships. Untreated psychological issues.

What is progressive mutism?

In elective mutism, a child elects to talk freely with intimates (e.g. family members); in progressive mutism a child does not communicate verbally with anyone (including intimates).

Can traumatic mutism be cured?

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.

Is mutism a disability?

One disability not only hidden but most frequently overlooked is Selective Mutism. According to the SMart Center: “Selective Mutism is a complex childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child’s inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social settings, such as school.

Is mutism a sign of autism?

Myth 5: Selective mutism is a form of autism. However, children with selective mutism act differently across situations. They are often very social and talkative within comfortable situations, but shy and quiet in others.

Is selective mutism on the autism spectrum?

Background. It has been suggested that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might be a “comorbid” condition in selective mutism (SM).

Can selective mutism lead to depression?

In the early teenage years, selective mutism is very often compounded by social anxiety disorder. By young adulthood, or earlier, many people with selective mutism will also experience depression and other anxiety disorders, including agoraphobia.

Is selective mutism a mental disorder?

Selective Mutism is a complex childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child’s inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social settings, such as school. These children are able to speak and communicate in settings where they are comfortable, secure, and relaxed.

Can 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. Treatment requires a cohesive plan between home and school to produce lasting change.

Does selective mutism run in families?

This can occur in settings that involve both children and adults. Children with selective mutism are able to communicate clearly and effectively in settings where they feel comfortable, secure, and calm. These children will speak at home in the presence of immediate family members or with close friends.

What happens if selective mutism is left untreated?

Selective Mutism is associated with functional impairments in educational, familial, social, or occupational settings. Left untreated, Selective Mutism may lead to increased stress within family units, decreased academic performance, and decreased socialization needed for appropriate development.

What are signs of selective mutism?

If you believe that your child may be struggling with selective mutism, look for the following symptoms: Expression of a desire to speak that is held back by anxiousness, fear, or embarrassment. Fidgeting, eye contact avoidance, lack of movement or lack of expression when in feared situations.

How do you help someone with selective mutism?

When interacting with a child with Selective Mutism, DO:

1. Allow for warm-up time.
2. Monitor the child’s body language.
3. Talk “around” the child at first with focus on parents or siblings.
4. Get down on the child’s level and focus on a prop.
5. Ask choice and direct questions to the child with focus on the prop.

Do speech therapists treat selective mutism?

When seeking treatment for selective mutism (SM), several types of professionals may be involved and able to provide treatment. Psychologists, speech language pathologists, counselors, behavior analysts, and social workers are common professionals that may provide treatment for SM.

Is selective mutism common?

Selective mutism is recorded to affect less than one percent of children in the United States. This disorder appears slightly more common in females than in males. The percent of affected population is unknown due to undiagnosis and misdiagnosis.

Is there medication for selective mutism?

Despite limited evidence, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) are used to reduce symptoms of selective mutism (SM) in children unresponsive to psychosocial interventions.

What causes muteness?

Neurological damage or problems with development of the area of the brain involved in speech production, Broca’s area, may cause muteness. Trauma or injury to Broca’s area, located in the left inferior frontal cortex of the brain, can cause muteness. Muteness may follow brain surgery.

What causes selective mutism?

The cause, or causes, are unknown. Most experts believe that children with the condition inherit a tendency to be anxious and inhibited. Most children with selective mutism have some form of extreme social fear (phobia). Parents often think that the child is choosing not to speak.

What do you do when your child doesn’t talk to you?

What to do:

1. Set appropriate limits, but focus on strengthening your relationship, too. You’ll get no respect if he doesn’t feel connected to you.
2. Resist the urge to lecture. If you can do that, he won’t need to push you away in order to become himself.
3. Remember that teenagers can be emotional.

Is selective mutism the same as social anxiety?

Selective mutism can be considered as a variant of social anxiety disorder because of the significant overlap in symptoms profile as well as treatment response.

Can you develop selective mutism as a teenager?

While selective mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder often associated with young children, teens and adults can also suffer from SM. In many cases, teens with SM have been struggling with anxiety for years.

How common is selective mutism in teens?

Most affected children and adolescents function normally in other areas of their lives and are able to learn age appropriate skills despite not speaking in some important situations. Less than 1 % of the population has selective mutism. Girls and boys are both likely to develop this disorder.

What causes a child to stop speaking?

The condition is often tied to anxiety and social phobia and appears to have a genetic element. Selective mutism may take place only at school or social settings, and in some instances it is associated to fear triggered by a person within the household.

What causes a child not to speak?

Extreme environmental deprivation can cause speech delay. If a child is neglected or abused and does not hear others speaking, they will not learn to speak. Prematurity can lead to many kinds of developmental delays, including speech/language problems.