Creating Communication Confidence

Key Questions to Ask Treating Professionals for Diagnosis and Treatment

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Do your homework! You will have a much better idea what to look for if you understand SM. Educate yourself as much as possible before seeing any professional. Parents should read as much information as they can about Situational/Selective Mutism. The SMIRA page https://www.selectivemutism.org.uk has countless pages of information and it is updated on a semi-regular basis.

Key questions to ask include:

• What are your areas of expertise?

• Have you ever treated a child with Selective Mutism?

• What is your treatment approach to Selective Mutism?

• What will be my role as a parent? What is the teachers role?

Caution: When speaking to potential treating professionals, please be cautious of those who see Selective Mutism as a controlling/manipulative behavior. Treatment approaches based on discipline and forcing a child to speak are inappropriate and will only heighten anxiety and negatively reinforce mute behavior.