Post: Shy Children

Posted by Gail Kervatt on 4/24/03

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Selective mutism is a complex psychological disorder caused
by anxiety. It is genetically related and average onset is
3.7 years of age. Generally, selective mutism is called
shyness for several years until a child enters school and
does not function verbally in school and most social
situations outside of school. Parents and teachers become
very concerned and seek further assistance and diagnosis.
These children have the ability to speak and understand
language, develop age appropriate skills, and function
normally at home with most family members and are,
therefore, often misdiagnosed. If this nonverbal behavior
outside of the home lasts for a period of time, it becomes
a learned pattern and is quite difficult to overcome,
because the longer a child is silent, the more entrenched
the behavior becomes.

Most school personnel do not have the expertise or
experience to deal with a child having this disorder which
is caused by anxiety and avoidance. This disability has
received more attention in the past few years and
therefore, the numbers of children identified who are
suffering with the disorder have risen sharply.

School interventions have proven to be quite difficult
partially due to teacher and administrator lack of
knowledge and materials, fear, and inexperience.
Selectively mute children quickly learn to use avoidance
techniques, as do their teachers, and to use the school
environment to accommodate this debilitating condition.
Thus, nonsupportive schools who avoid an appropriate
intervention begin to do unjust harm to these children.

It is evident that teachers who discover a selectively mute
child in their classroom do want to help. However, it
appears, they have a very difficult time finding research
based strategies and a format that can be used in a
sequential order within the school setting. Current
research and materials are becoming more available.

I hope that I have given you some needed information so
that these children do not continue to suffer in silence.
__________________
Gail Kervatt
http://www.selective-mutism.com

The Silence Within

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Shy Children, 4/24/03, by Gail Kervatt.

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