What is the best therapy for selective mutism?

What is the best therapy for selective mutism?

The most research-supported treatment for selective mutism is behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy approaches, including gradual exposures, contingency management, successive approximations/ shaping, and stimulus fading, are successful in the treatment of childhood anxiety.

Can selective mutism be treated with medication?

Selective mutism in adolescence Older teens may also start to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs in order to ease anxious feelings. Despite the fact that it is harder and more complicated to address, excellent help can still be available. Older children and teens may need: Intensive and robust behavior therapy.

Who treats selective mutism?

A pediatrician, speech-language pathologist, and a psychologist may work together to diagnose and treat the condition. Your child might need a set of different types of treatment. With treatment, most children overcome selective mutism.

Is selective mutism caused by trauma?

Studies have shown no evidence that the cause of Selective Mutism is related to abuse, neglect or trauma. What is the difference between Selective Mutism and traumatic mutism? Children who suffer from Selective Mutism speak in at least one setting and are rarely mute in all settings.

How do you break selective mutism?

Behavioral strategies and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are the most widely supported therapeutic treatments for selective mutism. Using a wide variety of strategies aimed at reducing the anxiety beneath the behavior, these therapeutic interventions help kids learn to gradually engage in more speaking behaviors.

Can Hypnotherapy Help selective mutism?

Selective mutism can affect children of all ages. But it usually begins at the age of 4 or 5. It is generally accepted that this problem stems from anxiety. It is possible to overcome selective mutism with hypnotherapy.

What should you not do with selective mutism?

When interacting with a child with Selective Mutism, DO NOT:

• Try to be “the one who gets this child to speak.” These efforts did not work in the past, are not working now, and will never work in the future!
• Disregard warm-up time.
• Approach the child without preparation.

How can I help my child with selective mutism?

How to Help a Child with Selective Mutism in the Classroom: 9 Tips

1. Accept nonverbal communication at first.
2. Avoid questions at first and ease into one-sided spoken communication.
3. Ask forced-choice questions and give specific praise.
4. Avoid mind-reading and reinforce speech, not gestures.

How do adults get rid of selective mutism?

In order to reach this stage, therapies used in the treatment of selective mutism in both children and adults include:

1. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
2. Desensitisation.
3. Shaping.
4. Positive reinforcement.
5. Family therapy.
6. Medication for selective mutism.