Selective Mutism: What It Is And What Causes It
Selective mutism is a disorder that can affect children. There are various causes for this disorder. Find out what they are.
Selective mutism is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. He defines it as follows: “the child tends to show adequate communication skills, even if only in certain contexts “.
This disorder is characterized by the child’s refusal to speak in certain contexts or situations. For example, you can express yourself well in your family, but you do not speak at school or in front of strangers.
Why does this happen? What is the reason why a child becomes mute in certain contexts? Today we will discover some of the reasons why this can arise.
Selective mutism in children
Selective mutism is more common in boys than in girls, it occurs only at an early age and we should pay special attention to it, as it can lead to great suffering. A person who is afraid of spiders cannot help but run away or scream when he sees them.
Thus, a child who suffers from selective mutism cannot help being silent. The reason is that mutism has a lot to do with anxiety, although it is not entirely clear, since cases are rare.
Iván Carabaño Aguado, deputy physician of the pediatric service at the 12 de Octubre University Hospital in Madrid, points out that selective mutism is “a variety of anxiety disorder that can be hereditary and can be compared to extreme shyness. “
Mutism can be considered a disorder only in cases where it persists for more than a month. In fact, according to Carabaño, sometimes mutism is still present in adulthood, something that can cause serious problems.
The mutism that lasts into adulthood can cause many limitations and barriers at all levels. Both at the time of meeting other people, and accessing a job.
Factors that predispose to selective mutism
Selective mutism. Guide for early detection, evaluation and intervention in school is a guide developed by the Conduct Module of the Navarra Special Education Resource Center (CREENA). In it, some of the factors that can predispose a child to suffer from this disorder are exposed:
- Personality characteristics : If a child is very shy or inhibited, they will be more prone to selective mutism.
- Learning deficits : some examples might be stuttering; some delay in language, speech or lack of social skills.
- Family environment : if there is a model of avoidance at home and the style exercised by one or both parents is overprotective or authoritarian, the child may develop selective mutism.
- School context : an authoritarian or condescending teacher who favors ‘unhealthy’ competition and makes fun of the child can promote silence.
Also, you must always take into account possible traumatic events that can condition you to suffer from this disorder. If you suspect that your child may have selective mutism, you should take him to a professional.
What we should never do in a situation in which a child does not want to talk is punish, scold or reprimand him. This will only add to the problem. We should try to understand him and treat him with affection. Also encourage him to interact with children he does not know and help him to reinforce his circle of friends.
