Selective Mutism A silencing disorder

1. Selective MutismA silencingdisorder Julia Guzman

2. What is Selective Mutism • Children with SM are consistently incapable of speaking in one or more social settings: • school • grocery store • extracurricular activities • Children with SM have full cognitive ability, an understanding for language and capability of speaking. • Children with SM may speak at home or to a close friend. • Children with SM are known to experience high anxiety There are no known causes for Selective Mutism (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed, 1994)

3. BattlingSelectiveMutism

4. history (Pediatrics, 2001:926)

5. A look at Selective Mutism: The Sound of Silence

6. clarification Selective Mutism is not… • a child being shy • a child being defiant • a mechanism to control • always a phase SM children will not speak even sometimes in time of need: • Bathroom • Injury

7. Q. Is this disorder common? The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2006

8. A. 7 in 1,000 children are diagnosed as having Selective Mutism. The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2006

9. theories It’s a coping mechanism for… • Trauma • Anxiety • Extreme Shyness

10. Trauma Originally, Elective Mutism or Selective Mutism was thought to be an aftermath of trauma. A prominent writer, psychologist and special educator that conducted studies and wrote about her experiences is Torey Hayden.

11. Trauma 1980 Hayden conducted research and wrote an article classifying Elective Mutism into four subtypes.

12. Maya angelou “I was a mute from the time I was seven and a half until I was almost 13. I didn't speak. I had voice, but I refused to use it." – Maya Angelou

13. anxiety • Manifestation of Fear and Anxiety • Exposure to Social or Group Setting

14. The effects • A teacher has a harder time assessing the child especially in Reading, Verbalizations, etc. • Interrupts every day functions - academics • Impairs social skills • The child is predisposed to developing anxiety disorders as an adult.

15. Education services • How SM meets IEP qualifications: • Other Health Impairment • Emotionally Disturbed • Speech or Language Impairment • A child diagnosed with Selective Mutism is eligible for accommodations through a 504 plan: • Pre-recorded book reports

16. treatment • Teach child to combat Anxiety • Ritual Sound Shaping – ex. whispering • Cognitive-Behavioral therapy • Anxiety Medication – Ex. Prozac • Dr Elisa Shipon-Blum • President, Director • Selective Mutism Anxiety Research and Treatment Center

17. Dr. ElisaShipon-Blum

18. therapy Successive Approximations Example (Schum, 2006)

19. Day to day connection Children’s Literature: • The Very Quiet Cricket • Chatterbox Jamie • Cat's Got Your Tongue?: A Story for Children Afraid to Speak (Selective Mutism Org)

20. References American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. American Psychiatric Publishing; 1994:110-6, 411-6. Bates, Betsy. “Listen for the sounds of silence: selective mutism.” Family Practice News 37.16 (2007): 24. Academic OneFile.Web.28 Oct.2010. Chavira, D. A., Shipon-Blum, E., Hitchcook, C., Cohan, S., & Stein, M. (2007). Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety Disorder: All in the Family? American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , 1464-1472. Cole, Wendy. “Why Abby Won’t Talk: she has a condition called selective Mutism that is neither as rare nor as hopeless as experts believed. But the right help is hard to find.” Time 6 Feb. 2006: 56. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. Cunningham CE: Behavioral and emotional adjustment, family functioning, academic performance, and social relationships in child with selective Mutism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 2004; 45(8): 1363-1372. Discovery Health. (2010, September 9). Discovery Health Videos. Retrieved October 28, 2010, from Discovery Health: http://health.discovery.com/videos/my-child-won-t-talk-selective-mutism-the-sound-of-silence.html Dowd, Kathy Ehrich, and Richard Jerome. “Why Jacob Won’t Talk.” People Weekly 18 Feb. 2008: 108. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Oct. 2010.

21. References http://www.selectivemutism.org. (2010, October 28). Selective Mutism Organization. Retrieved October 28, 2010, from Selective Mutism Organization Website: www.selectivemutism.org http://www.selectivemutismfoundation.org. (2010, October 28). Selective Mutism Foundation. Retrieved October 28, 2010, from Selective Mutism Organization Website: www.selectivemutismfoundation.org James, S. D. (2007, August 29). Selective Mutism Is Paralyzing Shyness, Not Psychosis. Retrieved October 28, 2010, from ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=3534240&page=1 Joseph, Paul R. “Selective Mutism – The Child who doesn’t speak at school.”Pediatrics 104.2 (1999): 308. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. Kearney, Christopher A., and Jennifer Vecchio. “Functional analysis and treatment of selective mutism in children.” The Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis 1.2 (2006): 141+. Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Oct.2010. Manassis K. Silent suffering: understanding and treating children with selective mutism. Expert Rev Neurother. Feb 2009;9(2):235-43. Schum, Robert L. “Clinical perspective on the treatment of selective mutism.” The Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis 1.2(2006): 149+.Academic OneFile. Web. 28 Oct. 2010.

22. References “Selective Mutism”.(Challenging Case:Development Delays and Regression).”Pediatrics 107.4 (2001): 926+.Academic OneFile.Web. 28 Oct. 2010. Smith, T. E., Polloway, E. A., Patton, R. J., & Dowdy, C. A. (2004). Teaching Students with Special Needs in Inclusive Settings. Boston: Pearson. Viana, G. A., Beidel, D. C., & Rabian, B. (2009). Selective Mutism: A review and integration of the last 15 years. Clinical Psychology Review , 57-67.