The Power of Silence: Selective Mutism in Ireland – A Speech and Language Perspective

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Carmody, Lorraine

Affiliations: Speech and Language Therapist, Southern Health Board, Cork

Abstract: Selective mutism is a psychiatric disorder of childhood, where a child has the ability to speak, but does not speak to select individuals, or within select environments. It is a poorly understood and under-researched disorder. Speech and language therapists will often be among the primary professionals involved in the management of selectively mute children, and can often offer a very different perspective on the disorder, particularly because of their expertise in the area of communication. The aim of the present study was to determine Irish speech and language therapists’ experience of selective mutism in children, with specific emphasis on identifying characteristics of children with the disorder, of their families, and of their social environment, as well as information on management approaches and details of therapy undertaken. It is hoped that the information gathered will, in some way, compensate for the gap in the literature regarding Irish children with a diagnosis of selective mutism. This paper offers an overview of selective mutism among Irish children, as reported by speech and language therapists, and discusses the findings. A model to aid an understanding of the features of the disorder is proposed.

Keywords: selective mutism, child psychiatry, child and family characteristics, social involvement, management approaches

DOI: 10.3233/ACS-2000-10105

Journal: Journal of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 41-65, 2000