Selective mutism is an anxiety-based social communication disorder in which children are talkative in settings where they are comfortable, but silent in other environments. It is important to understand there are many misconceptions surrounding selective mutism, its causes, and how to treat it. Here are some common myths and subsequent facts about selective mutism in your child.
Myth #1 – Children With Selective Mutism Are Just Shy And Will Grow Out Of It
Fact – Selective mutism is not the same as shyness. Shyness is a personality trait, and the shy child will eventually warm up in unfamiliar situations. Selective mutism is a diagnosable mental health disorder that interferes with a person’s ability to function and communicate with others. Without treatment, children with selective mutism will continue to not speak in situations where speaking is expected.
Myth #2 – Children With Selective Mutism Are Typically Emotionally Disturbed Because Of Abuse, Neglect, Or A Trauma They Have Suffered
Fact – Selective mutism should not be confused with traumatic mutism, which usually develops suddenly in all situations after a traumatic event has occurred e.g. being in, or witnessing, a car accident. Most children with selective mutism do not have a history of abuse, neglect, or trauma, but there often is a family history of anxiety.
Myth #3 – Children With Selective Mutism Are Just Being Oppositional And Manipulative
Fact – Selective mutism was originally called elective mutism because it 
was once thought that children were purposefully refusing to speak. Children with selective mutism have been considered oppositional, defiant, passive aggressive, and even manipulative. We now know that selective mutism is an anxiety-based disorder that causes the child to feel afraid and unable to speak, in social situations.
Myth #4 – Selective Mutism Is A Form Of Autism
Fact – Selective mutism and autism often get confused, but they are not the same disorder. There might be overlapping symptoms, e.g. children with selective mutism might lack eye contact, give a blank stare, and lack verbal communication when they are very anxious. It should be noted, however, that children with selective mutism are talkative, social, and outgoing in comfortable situations, therefore acting differently. The autistic child tends to act the same in all types of situations, whether it be comfortable or uncomfortable.
Myth #5 – Selective Mutism Is A Rare Childhood Anxiety Disorder
Fact – Although the latest research on the prevalence of selective mutism is from 2002, it showed that 1 child in every 140 children suffers from selective mutism. The rate is twice that in bilingual children. These numbers are likely to be falsely low due to the lack of knowledge about selective mutism and children being misdiagnosed as autistic, oppositional defiant disorder, or wrongly labeled as “shy.” Being misdiagnosed can lead to the incorrect treatment plan. Therefore, getting the correct diagnosis and treatment is crucial to overcoming selective mutism.
Myth #6 – People With Selective Mutism Don’t Want To Speak
Fact – Many children with selective mutism are described as “talkative ” “chatty,” and “outgoing” when they are in environments where they are comfortable. It is outside of these environments that the silence takes over, but most children with selective mutism do want to speak and are trying. It is anxiety that causes the words to get “stuck” in their throat and them to freeze up.
Myth #7 – Putting Pressure On Someone With Selective Mutism Will Help Them.
Fact – This is not only untrue, but can have the immediate effect of increasing anxiety and making it more difficult to speak. Pressuring and trying to persuade someone with selective mutism to speak can make an already intense experience even more distressing.
Myth #8- Selective Mutism is Caused By A Language Impairment
Fact – Although selective mutism can develop in part due to a speech issue, we have to remember that, at its core, it is an anxiety issue. Many children with selective mutism can speak extremely well when they are in situations that feel comfortable to them. Being unable to physically speak in certain environments does not necessarily mean that there is a language impairment.
Myth #9 – Children With Selective Mutism Tend To Be Lower In Intelligence Than Their Peers
Fact – Traditional student evaluation methods often involve verbal participation and test results. The misconception that children with selective mutism have lower intelligence can be due to the lack of participation in the classroom and the often poor test results due to anxiety. These contribute to educators perceiving these children as being less intelligent. This is why it is important to have an IEP or 504 Plan of Accommodation that is individualized for the child with selective mutism so that an accurate assessment can occur.
Myth #10 – Selective Mutism Is A Difficult Disorder To Treat
Fact – Although many clinicians are unfamiliar with selective mutism and how to treat it, there are behavioral and cognitive approaches that are effective. Interventions, such as Parent-Child Interactive Therapy adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM), can help children overcome selective mutism. Younger children tend to make progress quicker than older children who have spent long periods of time being silent. It does require that parents, other family members, teachers, and professionals work together in order for treatment to be as successful as possible.
This list is by no means exhaustive when it comes to the misconceptions on selective mutism. It is important to continue educating ourselves so that we have a better understanding of what selective mutism is, its causes, and what treatment can look like. It is imperative that the people who interact with your child are educated in what selective mutism is and what it is not. Spreading awareness and understanding these misconceptions can allow us to work towards getting those struggling with selective mutism the help and treatment they need.
Start Working with a Child Therapist in Scotch Plains, NJ, and Branchburg, NJ for Selective Mutism
At Brave Minds Psychological Services in Scotch Plains, NJ, selective mutism is only one of many things that we can help with in child therapy for anxiety. Let our skilled and caring child therapists provide a safe and comfortable therapy experience right here in New Jersey. To begin counseling, there are a few simple steps:
- Connect with Brave Minds Psychological Services today.
- Get your questions answered in a free phone consultation call with one of our compassionate child therapists.
- Help your child move forward with their brave, beautiful life.
Other Therapy Services At Brave Minds Psychological Services
We offer a variety of mental health services for children, teens, adults, and families at Brave Minds Psychological Services. Our licensed therapists and counselors are committed to helping you get on the right path to healing and wholeness. Our therapeutic services for children and teens include therapy for children, anxiety treatment for children, child sexual abuse therapy, therapy for teens, anxiety treatment for teens, teen social phobia therapy. We also offer adult mental health services including adult anxiety counseling, couples counseling, counseling for parents, postpartum counseling, birth trauma therapy, and sexual assault counseling for adults. We also have a blog where we write about a variety of different mental health subjects. If you’re interested in learning more about our services here at Brave Minds Psychological Services or online, please contact our Scotch Plains counseling office! Proud to serve Fanwood, Westfield, Cranford, New Providence, and surrounding areas.