Selective Mutism Essay

Another social and communication disorder is Asperger syndrome, this is characterised by the following; the individual may have difficulties in social interactions, a restricted range of interests, repetitive behaviours and also they may have a delay in motor development. This may be shown in the individual 's clumsiness or uncoordinated movements, however, those with Asperger 's syndrome don’t have significant delays in both language and cognitive development. There are a number of different symptoms of Asperger 's yet it is unlikely that they would all be present in one person. Each

Speech therapy is also a commonly used therapy with children who have been diagnosed with ASD. Every educator interviewed included speech therapy in the list of therapies they incorporate into educating students with ASD. Speech is helpful

There are several therapies that have been developed throughout the years to help children with the disorder. The Applied behavioral analysis (ABA); the educational therapy, which focus on educational and cognitive skills; the medical and related interventions, and the Allied health therapy, that focus on language development, it includes: “speech/language, occupational, and physical therapists, including auditory and sensory integration, music therapy, and language therapies (e.g., Picture Exchange Communication System [PECS])” (Agency for Healthcare research and quality, 2014). However, the main idea of this research paper is to focus on the music therapy approach, which can serve as an important tool to develop basic verbal and nonverbal communication in

Most children are diagnosed during the first years of schooling, when the child’s teacher is usually the first to bring concerns to the parents/caregivers and the school administration. Often it is not until children enter school and there is an expectation to perform, interact and speak, that selective mutism becomes more obvious. Moreover, when school starts, children also experience difficulties

Communication is vital in life, whether it be from simply having a conversation with someone or trying to understand what they are saying and if a person has a speech disorder, that can make life very complicated. Children with speech disorders may have trouble producing sounds to use spoken language to communicate with people and may have trouble understanding what people are trying to say. Children with speech disorders may have problems with vocal quality, articulation, fluency, hearing, and intellectual abilities. Those difficulties that children may face due to speech disorders can potentially cause setbacks in their everyday life which is why Midlands Therapy Services tries to help children reach their full potential. Midlands Therapy

Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also know as social phobia, affects between 1.6% and 4.0% of children. Like other anxiety disorders, girls are more likely to be diagnosed with SAD than boys (Chavira & Stein, 2002). The defining features of SAD are excessive self-consciousness that is more than just common shyness. Individuals with SAD fear social or performance situations where they may face scrutiny or humiliation. The two subtypes of SAD are generalized and non-generalized. Approximately 75% of individuals with SAD experience the generalized type, which is characterized by experiencing distress in almost all social situations. Non-generalized SAD is characterized by experiencing anxiety in only one or two types of interpersonal situations, like public speaking. Generalized social anxiety disorder has high comorbidity with major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and ADHD. Non-generalized SAD however has low comorbidity with other disorders. Children with selective mutism have a significantly high comorbidity rate with SAD, about 97% to 100% (Chavira & Stein, 2005).

The purpose of Compansano’s article was to increase awareness of the disorder Selective Mutism and the issues connected with the anxiety disorder. Compansano addresses the current treatments, and the need for early intervention. Compansano concludes her article by suggesting the need for more research and training for educational counselors. Compansano described Selective Mutism by using the American Psychiatric Association’s definition as “persistent failure to speak in specific social situations (e.g., school, with playmates) where speaking is expected, despite communicating in other situations” (American Psychiatric Association,

A new disorder has been added to the DSM-5 and this is: social communication disorder. Children with this disorder will have continuous difficulties in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication. They have difficulties with pragmatics the unspoken, subtle rules of spoken language that allow people to connect. They don’t always understand the art of two-way conversation. Some of them monopolize conversations or interrupt a lot. Others may hesitate to talk at all.

This study was a quantitative study using and exploratory, descriptive design to explore the role of the school psychologists, their involvement, knowledge and training regarding the Selective Mutism child. The study’s purpose was to measure how much knowledge the school psychologists had regarding intervention used when an SM child was identified. The research questions developed (Ellis, 2015):

Many children with selective mutism speak normally, and often, while around or in familiar people and situations. Situations recognized as familiar and comfortable vary for each child. Generally, children feel most comfortable in their home. One child might whisper to a teacher at school while another child might only speak to one friend in the school setting. While children with selective mutism might have several close friends, the environment in which they are determines whether the child will interact with them. Many will speak freely during play-dates at home and not say one word while at school.

Attention deficit disorder, also called ADD, is defined as 'a disorder primarily a characteristic of childhood, marked by a consistent problem in paying attention,' in the book, The Lifespan by Guy R. Lefrancois (1999). It is more common among boys than girls but can effect all ages. Focusing on children between the ages of five thru ten, it is estimated that three to five percent, which is 1.35 - 2.25 million, of all children are living with ADD. When accompanied by serious hyperactivity, ADD is labeled as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. This disorder makes it very challenging for educators to deal with. Understanding the characteristics of this disorder, how to treat the disorder

This disorder is important to me for two reasons: 1) my adopted granddaughter has Selective Mutism, and 2) there is very little awareness about the disorder and especially in education. Since this disorder is not well known and usually diagnosed incorrectly as shyness rather than an anxiety disorder by primary care physicians, this hampers this population from getting immediate treatment. Moreover, what is strange, at home, the child does not manifest this anxiety disorder and speaks in a normal fashion (Harwood, & Bork, 2011). To adequately support the Selective Mutism child, there is a need to provide classroom support, along with, teacher, parents, and school psychologist awareness. An intensive training program for all teaching staff and educational psychologist is needed to accomplish this. (Shipon-Blum,

The cause of selective mutism differs on the case of the person. Selective mutism is hard to categorize because so many cases are different each having their own cause and effect. Many would say that the children with SM are stubborn and choosing not to speak. The reality of it is that these children really do want to have friends and to be active in the classroom but themselves won't let them. Their parents usually just think it’s shyness and sometimes punish the child for not talking or being social. The children can’t help it and it’s sad to think that not a lot of people know about this disorder because many children suffer with it. They

When a child is unable to speak around certain people or in certain settings they may have an anxiety disorder called selective mutism. ("Parents Guide to Selective Mutism." Child Mind Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2017. page 1) It is very common for kids with selective mutism to be very chatty at home with family and friends but then silent at school right every other public setting. Parents start noticing the size of selective mutism at around age 3 or four. Although of the disorder might not be diagnosed until he/she is school-aged, when their speech problems become more evident. Child with selective mutism could go a whole year in the classroom or other school setting without talking to the teacher, Students, or counselors. Usually kids with selective mutism are very well behaved and polite meaning they listen they just don't know how to communicate is someone there not comfortable with, so their silence can be misunderstood as shyness but is usually never addressed as a possible wall/barrier to their learning. According to the parent’s guide to select mutism from the child mind Institute selective mutism can cause significant impairment in a child's life. It can interfere with kid’s performances at school, both academically and

There are times when people are plagued with thoughts, behaviors or emotions that will inhibit them from normal behavior. These are known as psychological disorders. These disorders come in many forms but all will have large effects on a person’s life.