Selective Mutism: What Is It And How Does It Come About?

Selective mutism can affect children. There are several reasons for its appearance. Discover them in this article.

Selective mutism is described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Guide to Mental Disorders (DSM-5). There it is defined in the following way: “The child shows skills for adequate communication, but only does this in certain contexts.”

This disorder is characterized by the child’s refusal to speak in certain contexts or situations. For example, they may speak to their family but not do so at school or among strangers.

Why is this happening? For what reason does a child suddenly become dumb in different situations? Today we are discovering some of the reasons why this can happen.

Selective Mutism in Children

Selective mutism  is more common in boys than girls, it only happens at a young age and we should pay special attention to it because it can be accompanied by severe suffering.

A spider scared person cannot avoid screaming or running away when they see one. This is exactly how it means that selective mutism forcibly silences a child.

The reason for this is that silence is closely related to anxiety, although this has not yet been clearly proven, as there are few cases.

Iván Carabaño Aguado, pediatrician at 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid, states that selective mutism is a “type of anxiety disorder that can be hereditary and can be compared to extreme shyness.”

Selective mutism is only recognized as a disorder if it lasts for more than a month. According to Carabaño , it can even persist into adulthood, which can lead to serious problems.

If the disorder persists into adulthood, there are many limits and hurdles in all areas of life, such as when meeting new people or when looking for a job.

Factors Favoring Selective Mutism

The Spanish Center for Special Education in Navarre (CREENA) has published a guide on selective mutism. It explains some of the reasons a child may have this disorder:

• Personality characteristics : If a child is very shy or self-conscious, they are more likely to suffer from selective mutism.

• Learning difficulties : Some examples of this are stuttering, speech deficits or a lack of social skills.
• Family environment : If problems are avoided in the family and one or both parents are very authoritarian or overprotective, then the child can develop selective mutism.
• School context : An authoritarian or condescending teacher who encourages sick competition between children and makes fun of a child can also negatively affect the child’s development, causing selective mutism to manifest.

One must also consider that traumatic experiences could trigger selective mutism. If you suspect that your child is suffering from it, you should see a specialist with them.

In no case should you scold or reprimand your child if they don’t speak, as this will only make the problem grow. We must try to understand it and treat it with gentleness and love. It also helps to encourage them to play with unfamiliar children or to strengthen their circle of friends.