Has anyone had a child who has completely stopped talking?
Over the last couple of years, my daughter (12) was always reluctant to talk to adults, even ones she had known for a while. She would say it was too scary to even say "hello" if someone said hello to her, which led me to wonder about low-profile selective mutism. However, she always talked very freely at home and with her friends. She is autistic (diagnosed in Year 6).
For about the last 6 weeks, however, she hasn't talked at all at home (to me, her dad, or older brother). She does actually make quite a bit of noise - it's just that she doesn't talk. Sometimes she says half of a word (e.g. "juh" for "jumper'). She did manage to talk (as in to read out the letters) at a recent opticians' appointment. She says that she can't, rather than won't, talk.
DD started Year 7 in September and really does not like school. She hates the environment (too loud and crowded) though she is doing OK academically. Homework is a battle. I am told she does talk a little bit at school to her teachers if she absolutely has to. She is getting quite a bit of support from school and has a key worker, ELSA sessions, and a timeout card. The keyworker has asked teachers not to call on her in class. One morning she flat out refused to go in until about 9:30am, during the time when she was not talking at home, she did speak to the attendance officer.
Has anyone experienced similar? We are trying not to put pressure on her to talk but it is very difficult and frustrating. I don't know if it's a control thing, as in she feels the one thing she can control is not speaking. I am also worried that she can't go on like this or things are just going to get harder and she will become increasingly socially isolated.