1 / 9

Selective Mutism

Selective Mutism. Kayla Clemmer PSY 306 December 1, 2008. Definition:. The American Psychiatric Association defines Selective Mutism as the “consistent failure to speak in specific social situations in which there is an expectation for speaking.”

candy
Download Presentation

Selective Mutism

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Selective Mutism Kayla Clemmer PSY 306 December 1, 2008

  2. Definition: • The American Psychiatric Association defines Selective Mutism as the “consistent failure to speak in specific social situations in which there is an expectation for speaking.” • Demonstrates language competence in some situations, but fails to speak in others (classrooms, community settings, etc.) (Beare)

  3. History of Selective Mutism • Adolf Kussmaul defined this condition as “Aphasia Voluntaria” in the 1800s. • Selective Mutism was later termed as “Elective Mutism” • Belief that children were “electing” not to speak (Lescano)

  4. Facts • Selective Mutism occurs in 0.2% - 2.0 of children • Affects both boys and girls equally? (Kearney & Vecchio) • This has been debated (Lescano) • Begins at 3 – 6 years old (Kearney & Vecchio) • Not under voluntary control (Lescano) • Interferes with both educational achievement and social acceptance (Beare)

  5. Causes • The cause is unknown but there are two theories: • Oppositional behavior or extreme form of social anxiety • More empirical support for social phobia (Lescano) • “One father of a girl with selective mutism said that his daughter ‘describes it as the words get stuck in her toes.’” (Kearney & Vecchio)

  6. 8 Questions to ask if a child has Mutism: • What specific settings involve failure to speak? • Has the mutism lasted at least one month? • Does the child speak well at home with people he knows well? • Is failure to speak significantly interfering with academic & social development? • What circumstances surround each episode of mutism? • Can the child be encouraged to speak audibly in certain public settings? • How do others respond to, or compensate for, the child’s mutism? • Does the child appear anxious or depressed in situations involving mutism? (Kearney & Vecchio)

  7. Possible Treatments for SM • Positive Reinforcement (Beare) • Medication • (Treatment for SM has very limited research attention because of its rarity.) (Mannasis)

  8. Teachers with Students who Have SM • Ask the 8 questions • Reinforce the positive behavior • Avoid shaming students for not speaking • Provide many opportunities to prompt speech in the classroom • It takes several months for children with SM to improve

  9. Works Cited Beare, Paul, Colleen Torgerson, and Cindy Creviston. "Increasing Verbal Behavior of a Student Who Is Selectively Mute." Journal of Emotional & Behavioral Disorders 16.4 (Winter2008 2008): 248-255. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 13 Nov. 2008 <http://0-search.ebscohost.com.library.acaweb.org:80/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=35047045&site=ehost-live>. Kearney, Christopher A., and Jennifer L. Vecchio.. "When a child won't speak." Journal of Family Practice 56.11 (Nov. 2007): 917-921. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 13 Nov. 2008 <http://0-search.ebscohost.com.library.acaweb.org:80/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=27544099&site=ehost-live>. Lescano, Celia M. "Silent children: Assessment and treatment of selective mutism." Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter 24.1 (Jan. 2008): 1-7. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 13 Nov. 2008 <http://0-search.ebscohost.com.library.acaweb.org:80/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=27872851&site=ehost-live>. Manassis, Katharina, and Rosemary Tannock.. "Comparing Interventions for Selective Mutism: A Pilot Study." Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 53.10 (Oct. 2008): 700-703. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. [Library name], [City], [State abbreviation]. 13 Nov. 2008 <http://0-search.ebscohost.com.library.acaweb.org:80/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=35047194&site=ehost-live>.

More Related