Selective Mutism is rare, with only 1% of individuals having the disorder. Most cases are with children under the age of 5. Despite this, Selective Mutism can create significant problems for both the individual and members of his/her family.
Selective Mutism is caused by a variety of factors such as negative affectivity, behavioural inhibition, parental behaviour and trauma. Often times selective mutism involves mutism toward authority figures in life. Many cases of Selective Mutism are a combination of Temperamental and Genetic/Environmental factors from the parents.
Difficulties arising from Selective Mutism
- Academic impairment and difficulty as a result of lack of communication with teachers
- Difficulties in work settings with regards to communication and ability to complete tasks
- Social difficulties such as social isolation and bullying from students, or peers
Common symptoms of Selective Mutism
- Inability or difficulty to communicate in social situations
- Struggles with work or school due to speaking or communicative difficulties
- Inability or unwillingness to speak not attributable to lack of skill or intelligence
Treatments for Selective Mutism
Treatments for Selective Mutism vary but the most effective treatments are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy through exposure and Clinical Hypnosis through dealing with the root cause in the subconscious. Recent advances in Neurofeedback can train parts of the brain involved in inhibitions feeding the selective mutism.
Examples of who Can Benefit From Our Treatments
- Student having difficulty communicating or talking with teachers or fellow students resulting in academic difficulty
- Individual having difficulty working as a result of social anxiety or fear of being in social situations
- Company executive struggling to work as a result of a child moving away
- Student with dropping grades as a result of over-thinking or worrying
How We Can Help
In general, Anxiety Disorders are commonly found throughout the world and often the suffering individual will have difficulty trying to live a thriving and happy life. Fortunately, there are solutions! The most common and effective ways of treating and helping individuals with Anxiety Disorder are through Life Coaching, Functional Medicine, Biofeedback, and Psychotherapy. All have been proven to be effective solutions to distinguish and eliminate symptoms of Anxiety Disorders.
