As mentioned in previous chapters, selective mutism causes people to remain mute in some situations. Some more confident people might be able to communicate non-verbally, give one word answers or whisper, but selective mutism isn't only about the voice, so what is it? What does it mean to be selectively mute?
People with selective mutism often appear nervous or socially awkward in situations they're not comfortable in. Most people with this condition will avoid direct eye contact because it can lessen the pressure of the situation.
They might appear rude, disinterested or sulky when their mutism is misunderstood. It's important to recognise that a selectively mute person doesn't choose to remain silent and they're not ignoring you because they want to.
Some selectively mute people appear clingy and will keep close with the people they know. This isn't because they're shy, it's because they aren't able to interact with everyone else, and they cling to the people they know they're safe with.
Some people feel stiff or tense when put into anxiety-inducing situations and, in more severe cases, the person might shut down completely and find even moving difficult.
Children with selective mutism might come across as rebellious and appear stubborn or aggressive and throw tantrums. Young children often don't understand their mutism and aren't capable of explaining why they don't speak, so when questioned by parents about or it being asked to go somewhere they feel they might need to speak, they don't know how else to express their problems.
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Summary for those who want it:
Symptoms of selective mutism include:
• Sudden stillness and/or frozen facial expressions when expected to talk to people outside their comfort zone
• Avoiding eye contact
• Appearing nervous, uneasy or social awkward
• Appearing rude, disinterested or sulky
• Being clingy
• Appearing stiff, tense or poorly co-ordinated
• Appearing stubborn or aggressive, having temper tantrums when they get home from school, or getting angry when questioned by parents
More confident people can use gestures, but more severely affected people tend to avoid all kinds of communication, including spoken, written and gestured. Some people can give short verbal answers or speak in an altered voice, such as a whisper.
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Selective Mutism
Non-FictionWhat is Selective Mutism? What does it mean to live with it? This book is incomplete and unedited. The cover image doesn't belong to me and can be found on devinart by "rottingmute" here: https://www.deviantart.com/rottingmute/art/SELECTIVE-MUTISM-S...
