November 15, 2023
Jacqueline Sperling, PhD
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This presented in partnership with McLean Hospital is designed for caregivers wondering whether a child might have selective mutism and/or social anxiety and what one can do about it.
November 17, 2022
Aimee Kotrba, PhD
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Children with untreated Selective Mutism are at an increased risk for self-esteem issues, depression, school failure, social skill problems, and school refusal.
Children who are unable to speak in situations where talking is expected or necessary, to the extent that their refusal interferes with school and making friends, may suffer from selective mutism (SM). As the Selective Mutism Association (SMA) notes SM is best understood as a childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child or adolescent’s inability to speak in one or more social settings (e.g., at school, in public places, with adults) despite being able to speak comfortably in other settings (e.g., at home with family).