Differentiate instruction. Do not expect the child to be able to present or speak in class. Talk with the school social worker and psychologist about needs specific to the child with selective mutism. The child can be evaluated for an IEP by a specialist. 

​

Further Reading:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Useful Websites

https://selectivemutismcenter.org/whatisselectivemutism/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/selective-mutism

https://childmind.org/guide/selective-mutism/

https://www.selectivemutism.org/

https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/selective-mutism/

This article is on research conducted on children with Selective Mutism. It was found that children with Selective Mutism have behavioral inhibition first. It concluded that more research needs to be done because psychiatrists still do not understand the full impact of this disease. 

Gensthaler, A. & Khalaf, S. (2016). Selective Mutism and Temperment: The Silence and Behavioral Inhibition to the Unfamiliar. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 25(10),1113-1120. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/

This article is about a study that focuses on anxiety and children with Selective Mutism. The study concluded that higher levels of anxiety are correlated to children with Selective Mutism. 

Starke, A. (2018). Effects of Anxiety, Language Skills, and Cultural Adaptation on the Development of Selective Mutism. Journal of Communication Disorders,74, 45. Retrieved from https://galeapps.galegroup.com/apps/auth/?cause=https%3A%2F%2Ffind.galegroup.com%2Fmenu%2Fstart%3Fnull%26finalAuth%3Dtrue

This article looks further into treating children with selective mutism. It evaluates the different methods used and looks into the best treatment methods. 

Hefty, K. (2018). Treating Children With Selective Mutism. Communique, 47, 38. Retrieved from https://galeapps.galegroup.com/apps/auth/?cause=https%3A%2F%2Ffind.galegroup.com%2Fmenu%2Fstart%3Fnull%26finalAuth%3Dtrue