Selective Mutism - any advice please?

[redcess]

Hi

I'm hoping someone can give me some advice. Basically, my DS who is 4, has stopped talking to anyone but his immediate family. When he does talk (at nursery etc) he will only do so in a whisper. Sorry, just to be clear he is talking and behaiving normally at home - it is just nursery and other situations outside the home where he is whispering.

Until a couple of weeks ago I would describe him as a child who is a little self conscious and shy in unfamiliar situations (e.g. going to a birthday party), but for the most part is very talkative (he constantly asks questions ALL the time). He has bundles of energy, and is pretty demanding of adult attention. He can also be quite naughty / difficult some of the time (infact I have spent many an hour in the past wondering if he displays some signs of Aspergers - I have eventually concluded that he probably doesn't).

I am becoming increasingly anxious about the whole whispering thing? Could this behaiviour be a symptom of selective mutism does anyone know?

Possibly. The difficulty with Selective Mutism is that not many professionals know what to do about it. The SMIRA website has lots of info on SM and is your best resource of information. You may find that you are the one leading the way forward to help him if needed.
It is interesting that you raise the Aspergers question. It is more common with boys who have SM to have another problem alongside the SM be is ADHD, ASD, a learning difficulty or anything else.
It would be worth getting your son put forward to be assessed if the situation continues to rule anything out aside of the possible SM.
You can self refer to a speech and language therapist- I know your son doesn't have a speech problem but they are supposed to deal with communication problems too of which SM is one.

Hi my ds3 has selective mutism he didnt communicate in school or nursery for 3 years!!

At his mainstream nursery and school they only got growling or eye communication out of him and the area we lived in didnt know or accept selective mutism was a condition so he got no help or support..

We moved areas and at first speech therapy assessment they agreed he had selective mutism and he was referred to a specialist selective mute speech therapist who went into the special needs unit he started at and taught the teachers involved with daniel everything she could about dealing with mutism it took a year but he now communicates with certain children in the unit and the teachers..he was that bad he wouldnt even communicate at school with his twin brother!!

Now he same as always at home nons top talking,at school he communicates his needs but doesnt just walk in and talk and he doesnt take part in class discussions but at least he will communicate his needs and communicates on one to one..

If he see's anybody he knows in a different setting he isnt use to seeing them in he goes mute and wont give eye contact or talk..this applys to class peers, teachers, therapists and family members if i go into his school he doesnt communicate or come near me.

If people come into the home he goes mute but after awhile will start to communicate. It is ongoing but he is making progress and speech therapist has said so long as he stays in his unit and doesnt go into mainstream he will be ok but she feels mainstream will make him totally mute again. hth x

My ds (11) has been diagnosed with (amongst other things) Autism & Selective Mutism. He has spent the last 3 years of his primary school hardly saying anything to the staff there. He won't say a single word to his class teacher, and even when his Nan turned up there to help with the cooking class, he refused to talk to her too.

My suggestion would be to contact your ds's paed & ask for an assessment for selective mutism, as they will then be able to work out some strategys for getting him to "communicate" in school.