My latest assignment was to choose a speech or language disorder to give a power point presentation and fact sheet. I chose Selective Mutism. It is an anxiety disorder. It can often begin when a child reaches school age. Children go from home or preschool, which is mostly play and having fun with peers, to sitting in a desk being called on to answer questions. Anxiety rises in certain children that already may be predisposed to extreme shyness or separation anxiety. The attached fact sheet I compiled will give specific treatments and interventions. The main idea to take away is a child must speak freely in at least one environment, such as their home. If they will not speak in any environment it is not Selective Mutism. Also, an English Learner does not qualify for this disorder if they are within the "silent period" learning their new language. This can be a normal period where there is an an adjustment from speaking in one language to another. Collaboration between the Speech Language Pathologist is essential for anyone in contact with the child, such as the SPED teacher, general ed, music, PE teachers. To prevent the cycle of non-verbal responses it is important to use open-ended questions and and not yes/no questions. I picked this topic because a 2nd grader in my daughter's Girl Scout troop has this disorder. I am one of the leaders in the troop, and to be honest I was perpetuating the cycle by allowing non-verbal answers. She has whispered to me about 5 words in 6 months. I do think she feels more comfortable with me now, but she will not give sentences. She is making improvements slowly with her SLP. So check out the document and pass it on if you know someone with a child who might be prone to having this disorder or already does.
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AuthorSpecial Education major in a university teaching program. Substitute teacher, previous homeschool mom, wife. Archives
September 2019
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