Struggle to make eye contact and appear shy Answer questions wordlessly by pointing or nodding Speak through other individuals (like whispering to a friend or parent) Cry or throw a tantrum when someone asks them to speak Cling to a parent/caregiver, or hide when other people come near Symptoms will last longer than one month, not including the time it takes to adjust to a new environment—which usually takes another month—and can’t be blamed on unfamiliarity with the language or another disability, such as autism/Asperger syndrome.
For example, if you smile and tell your child “Great job!” when they make a gesture to communicate, they’ll want to communicate more. You can also give your child a small treat or toy to encourage improvement; they might be even more motivated to reach new speech milestones if they know they’ll get a well-deserved reward for their hard work.
AAC may involve hand gestures, written words, or communication boards with symbols that your child can point to.
This is why the technique is called “stimulus fading. " The discomfort progressively decreases as your child gets used to anxiety-inducing interactions over time alongside people they’re comfortable with.
Other people can help your child with shaping exercises too! Speak to other family members and teachers about this so they can offer encouragement at each milestone.
Try questions like, “Do you like sandwiches or pizza better?” and “Would you rather go to the park or the museum today?”
Teach your child that they don’t have to avoid every source of anxiety in their life, as this will reinforce general avoidant behavior. [7] X Research source
Make sure your child knows that being unable to speak isn’t a failure on their part, and they can still have fun and enjoy life without using verbal communication.
Accept nonverbal communication without expecting more from your child or imposing a time frame on their improvement. Developing comfort is an essential step in overcoming SM, so take the time to make sure your child is comfortable with you.
Remind your child to catch themselves when they think something negative. If they start thinking, “this is impossible,” they can correct that to, “this is possible, and I can do it. " Eventually, reframing their thoughts will be second nature, and you’ll notice a change in your child’s behavior as their outlook improves. This technique also teaches kids to reflect and analyze their thoughts and feelings, which is a useful skill!
Interviews with family help SM specialists better understand your child’s symptoms, how long they’ve been around, and get a sense of your child’s home environment.
SSRIs are usually only prescribed for children ages 8 and up who have a challenging case of selective mutism.
