What Causes Selective Mutism? Misconceptions & More!

Selective mutism is a rare disorder that affects children’s ability to speak in certain situations, but what causes selective mutism?

Though the knowledge and awareness of selective mutism have grown in recent years, we still don’t know much about the disorder. Many misconceptions still plague it, such as it being a refusal to speak rather than an inability to.

As someone with the disorder, it can be frustrating hearing these inaccurate portrayals, so I hope you can all learn a little something from this post.

This post covers what is selective mutism, some common misconceptions about selective mutism, and what causes selective mutism.

This post is all about what causes selective mutism!

 

What is Selective Mutism?

Selective mutism is a rare anxiety disorder that affects about one percent of the population. It’s primarily known as a childhood disorder but can continue to affect you into adulthood as well, especially if left untreated.

The disorder causes you to be unable to speak in certain situations such as at school, or around extended family, while being able to speak perfectly fine at home or around family and close friends. It’s referred to as selective mutism due to the selective nature of the mutism, not the child themselves.

It’s important to note that selective mutism is never a choice, most children with it wish they could speak in all the circumstances where they can’t. It is simply due to their debilitating anxiety that they cannot. Many people with selective mutism also have other comorbid anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety.

 

Related Post: What is Selective Mutism? And Why is It So Unheard Of?

 

Common Misconceptions About Selective Mutism

There are many common misconceptions about selective mutism including what causes it. Here are some of those misconceptions:

 

Children with Selective Mutism Have Been Traumatized or Abused

One common misconception is that children with the disorder have been traumatized or abused. There is no evidence linking selective mutism to trauma, and this dangerous myth may prevent parents from seeking help for their children.

It’s also important to note, traumatic mutism is an entirely separate disorder causing someone to become mute in all circumstances following a traumatic event.

 

Selective Mutism is Just Shyness and Will Be Outgrown

Selective mutism is not the same as being shy, it’s a severe anxiety disorder that is not commonly overcome without treatment. The disorder is a paralyzing inability to speak that interferes with the child’s development and day-to-day life. It can cause great suffering and lead to worsened anxiety or depression if not treated.

 

Children With SM Have Speech Problems

While some children with SM do have a speech delay, the two disorders are not related. Most children with SM don’t have any speech or language problems, though their verbal abilities may be greatly undermined by those around them. At home, many children with SM are known as chatterboxes. Other people just aren’t privy to how vocal they can be.

 

Children With SM Are Oppositional or Defiant

A common misconception is that children with SM are being defiant by choosing not to speak. This idea was so common that for a long time, selective mutism was known as elective mutism, the cause being attributed to bad parenting. Yikes!

Luckily, we know now that selective mutism is not a choice and the children with it experience it as a complete inability to speak due to anxiety.

 

Children With SM Will Speak if Demanded

Oh boy, where do I even start with this one? Demanding a child with SM to speak is exactly what reinforces their anxiety. The thought of having to speak paralyzes them with fear. Making demands will only make them want to speak even less.

Positive reinforcement is needed for a child with SM to be encouraged to speak. This can even involve completely removing any pressure for them to speak. They’ll feel more comfortable talking when they’re ready without any pressure. Just be sure to praise them when they do, no need to be over the top, just encourage them.

 

SM is a Form of Autism

While SM and autism share many similar attributes, the two aren’t linked in any way. Children with SM may avoid eye contact, carry a blank expression, and become non-verbal, but these behaviours only appear when they are experiencing anxiety. The rest of the time they go away entirely. Someone with Autism would continue to have the same social behaviours no matter the circumstances.

 

 

What Causes Selective Mutism?

The exact cause of selective mutism is unknown but certain attributes could apply. These include an anxious predisposition, an inhibited temperament, and sensory processing disorder. In some cases, speech or language abnormalities may also play a part.

 

An Anxious Predisposition

One of the main contributors to SM is thought to be a predisposition towards anxiety. This means the child has inherited an anxious tendency from one or more family members. Children with SM often exhibit behaviours such as separation anxiety, moodiness, tantrums, inflexibility, and extreme shyness.

 

Inhibited Temperament

Children with SM generally have inhibited temperaments, meaning they’re more prone to shyness. An inhibited temperament is also tied to a decreased threshold of excitability in the amygdala. The amygdala is the fear center of the brain. It receives signals from the sympathetic nervous system and sets off reactions to protect yourself from perceived threats. Someone with SM perceives these threats as social situations, such as school, large family gatherings, and friends’ birthday parties.

 

Sensory Processing Disorder

Many children with SM also have sensory processing disorder (DSI) meaning they have difficulty processing certain sensory information. They may react strongly to sensory inputs such as bright lights, loud noises, and uncomfortable clothing, such as socks and tags. This can affect their emotional responses as they may lash out or throw tantrums due to overwhelm. They may also try to avoid these circumstances entirely.

 

The Impact of Speech or Language Abnormalities

Some children with SM have speech or language abnormalities, or a learning disability such as auditory processing disorder. In these cases, these disorders can amplify their anxiety towards speaking. As stated earlier, many children with SM don’t have speech or language problems, so more studies are needed to fully assess their impact on children with SM.

 

Outliers 

In rare cases, a child with SM doesn’t show any behaviours of shyness. The reason for mutism in these children is unknown but is thought to be attributed to other causes. Children are seldom mute for no reason. It’s a symptom caused by something, even if that cause is unknown.

 

As you can see, more research is needed to determine the exact cause of selective mutism. It’s a disorder that’s been riddled with misinformation for decades and therefore contains many myths. Many elements are thought to attribute to the cause of the disorder, but more studies are required for the cases in which they don’t apply.

 

Post by Morgan Peters

 

Other Posts You May Like:

What is Selective Mutism? And Why is It So Unheard Of?

How to Help a Child With Selective Mutism

Attachment Theory & the 4 Attachment Styles

 

Sources:

“Myths about Selective Mutism.” Child Mind Institute, 14 June 2023, childmind.org/article/myths-about-selective-mutism/.

Shipon-Blum, Elisa. “What Is Selective Mutism.” Selective Mutism Anxiety & Related Disorders Treatment Center | SMart Center, 19 Apr. 2023, selectivemutismcenter.org/whatisselectivemutism/.