About a year ago my daughter was diagnosed with selective mutism. Does anyone have any advice or ideas on how to help a child with this anxiety disorder? While my daughter had autism tendensies, they said she didnt have autism.
My daughter has always been shy, but the past three years it has been an extreme kind of shy. She wouldnt eat, go to the bathroom, or talk outside the home. She went to the early education pre-school for the past two years and her teacher did wonders! she will now cautiously eat in front of other people, and will talk when she feels secure.
we still have a problem with her going to strange places. No matter how much i warn her in advance on what is going to happen (like being weighed at the doctors office) she still goes balistic.
if anyone had this same problem, any help would be greatly appreciated!!
GOD BLESS
2006-07-13 05:57:33 · 6 answers · asked by just forgiven 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
My husband's niece had selective mutism from the time she was 3 until about 6. She would talk to her parents, her older sister, and her grandparents who took care of her while her parents were working but she wouldn't talk to anyone else. When she got into school, she had a special education teacher who would tape questions on a cassette and she took the tape home and had to tape the answers so the teacher could hear her answer them but she felt more comfortable in the environment of her home. I really think she eventually just grew out of it. She finally started talking to us the Christmas of 2003. And now she talks non-stop. This girl has never been a good eater and they still struggle with that. My 9 month old son has bigger thighs than she does and she's 9 now. I'm not kidding!
So I think what my sister-in-law did was work with the teachers at her daughter's school, just tried to be patient with her daughter and prayed about it and eventually she just grew out of it.
I will say a prayer for you and your family. Good luck!
2006-07-13 08:00:35 · answer #1 · answered by Momof2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know much about the mutism, but if it might be related to the autistic tendencies you could consider this to address problems going into strange places. Work on "productive uncertainty". You and I can get a positive exciting feeling when we are going to be surprised by something new. Autistics have problems with this. In order to teach them that uncertainty can be a good thing. Try asking questions like: "guess what I've got pause". Use a positive reinforcer such as candy or toy. It is important that you not over do it and make the child have a meltdown. It needs to stay positive. SLOWLY increase the time. Add in new dimensions like "Guess who's here" , or "guess where we are going". There are opportunities throughout the day to do this just by changing the way we say things. But always remember to watch the child for clues to see if you are going to far. It is better to go slowly than to go backwards.
2006-07-14 22:27:40 · answer #2 · answered by unicorn 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My sister had the same issue as a child but grew out of it as she felt more calm and in control in her life. At an early age (she understood the idea of dad), my dad left the country; and as a result she was put into day care. In over a year she never spoke to any of the people at the day care center and dramatically reduced her caloric intake. At the daycare center she shyly played with other children.
I know it seems long and difficult but as your daughter feels more in control and comfortable she'll feel more comfortable and speak to other people or children.
Maybe you could talk to the pre-school teacher to get some strategies for making her more comfortable in new environments.
2006-07-13 06:27:40 · answer #3 · answered by TraciaF 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To an quantity i had mutism even as i began college. My 1st few days were very tense and on my second or third day a instructor smacked me as replaced into unwell of handling my crying and misery. I in no way spoke anouther word in that college, my mom replaced into called in and requested if i replaced into on any type of drug!!! Mum tried living house preparation for a lengthy time period. i back to mainstream college after a jiffy (not similar a million) yet i replaced into in no way totally integrated. from the age of seven till eventually i left i had a million relied on chum chooseing now to not artwork jointly with others till esential. it led to a lot of prob includeing bullying. because leaving college I genuinely have managed to conquer maximum probs to the quantity i stay in a hectic pub and all my artwork revolves round people and strong verbal substitute. The irony is that regardless of the very incontrovertible actuality that i had extremely any preparation i'm extra wise than maximum. I used to imagine i replaced right into a freak, now i see it replaced right into a classic reaction after being punished for shareing my concern and thoughts at a very youthful age and being punished for them!!
2016-11-02 00:00:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a student who wouldn't talk to me, or other teachers, the school counselor, or answer questions in class. However, several of the other students said she talked to them outside of class. I was able to get her to write answers, but she never did talk to me.....and since it was a language class.......
Have you researched this on the web?
Good luck!
2006-07-13 06:10:07 · answer #5 · answered by Bobbie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I found this website..http://www.selectivemutismfoundation.org/about.shtml
maybe it will be useful.
2006-07-13 06:23:24 · answer #6 · answered by Chris 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋