Reason why your kid is silent

KingKush
Mar 23, 2022
2 min read

Updated: Mar 26, 2022

Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder affecting adults but mainly children. Selective Mutism develops in kids at an early age, kids may be subjected to situations that makes it problematic for them to speak. Kids who are selective mutes are immobilized silent in certain social situations but can speak perfectly in others. These kids tend to be uncommunicative, they come off as withdrawn, shy or in some instances rude, wit as they don’t want to participate in activities or add to the conversation. Normal kids are expected to be loud, playful, and talkative. Kids may be unable to participate in group activities or present in front of class, coming off as withdrawn or reserved. As a parent you get to question if there’s something wrong with them. Speaking with kids’ teacher and coaches to learn how your kids behave. At home your kid is active, hyper, playful and all the things you would find in a normal kid.

Have you ever wondered why your kids are unable to speak in some social settings?

Knowing selective mutism is an anxiety disorder, there’s been some research on this subject indicating this anxiety and its link to social anxiety disorder. Anxiety is generally caused by fear triggering fight or flight response in the brain called the amygdala. This area then activates negative thoughts and emotions alters the behaviour of the person. There is some research where parents assessed children between 3 to 19 years old in a study called Retrospective infant behavioural inhibition (RTBI) questionnaire.

Parents are responsible of helping their kid with constant reinforcement of thinking of habits when their kid in social situations. The environment plays a big role in the kids developed meaning parents should make their kids comfortable by engaging them in extracurricular activities and after school programs. Practise with them different scenarios in school setting or whatever setting your kid tend to be silent in. There are different techniques that gradually increases your kids comfort level in anxiety social situations. Other treatments maybe include medication or CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy).

Selective Mutism Symptoms Include:

· Shyness, social anxiety, fear of social embarrassment or social isolation and withdrawal

· Difficulty maintaining eye contact

· Blank expression and reluctance to smile or incessant smiling

· Difficulty expressing feelings, even to family members

· Tendency to worry more than most people of the same age

· Sensitivity to noise and crowds