The best way to explain the difference is that a child with ASD with have the same difficulties with communication in all environments. Whereas a child with SM will be perfectly Fluent in an environment they feel comfortable.
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What is Selective Mutism? PDF Print E-mail edit
Written by SMIRA
Sunday, 20 April 2008 23:26
Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder in which affected people speak fluently in some situations but remain silent in others. It was once considered rare but is now known to affect more than 6 in 1000 children which is about the same number of children who are affected by classic autism. Yet still very few professionals are trained in dealing with selective mutism or have very little knowledge of it. The condition is known to begin in early in life and can be transitory, such as on starting school or on being admitted to hospital, but in some cases it may persist and last right through a child's school life, possibly resulting in missed life chances and difficulties communicating in adult life. Early intervention is crucial to completely eradicating the condition in the first few years of a child's life, so selective mutism awareness for parents and professionals along with appropriate information, training and intervention techniques for selective mutism is vital. "Communication is crucial, it is a fundamental Human right" (John Bercow July 2008)
These children usually do not talk to their teachers and may also be silent with their peers, although they do communicate non-verbally. Other combinations of non-speaking can also occur, affecting specific members of the child's family. Often the child has no other identifiable problems and converses freely at home or with close friends. He/she usually makes age-appropriate progress at school in areas where speaking is not required. These children are not usually unhappy or shy in activities that don't require speech which can confuse professionals as to the reasoning behind it being an anxiety disorder. As people often think of anxiety as presenting in people with many physical symptoms such as trembling, sweating, shaking for example. However if you are afraid of spiders you do get on with your daily life so long as you don't see a spider, or if you are afraid of flying you don't have a problem so long as you take the boat. Many people with selective mutism can appear to be fine so long as they don't have to speak, unless they have other anxieties or conditions to deal with. Although some people are so afraid of situations when they think they may have to speak that their whole bodies seem to freeze up. Every child with selective mutism is unique in how they present in their difficulties.
*Many children with the condition are never reported, as they are not troublesome at school. For parents, having such a child can be very distressing as they may feel blamed for the child's mutism.
*Children who have selective mutism are unlikely to have been abused as many NSPCC adverts often misleadingly suggest.
*Children with genuine selective mutism difficulties are not usually being quiet in order to gain attention by manipulating or controlling situations or being defiant or naughty. From what selectively mute children do tell us their throats do tighten up preventing speech.
It is still worth tacking it via the Ed Psych as well, just print off the info from the communication trust that Selective Mutism is a SLCN and info from the Selective Mutism Website. Ask you LEA what their policy is on SM and give them the same information.