A person with selective mutism may not be able to speak during their assessment, but the clinician should be prepared for this and be willing to find another way to communicate. In time, the person may learn to anticipate the situations that provoke this distressing reaction and do all they can to avoid them. Don’t allow yourself to dwell on thoughts that aren’t productive! Find out How Not to Let Negative Thoughts Trump the Positive Vibes. Follow the person's lead, rather than directing them. They will be more likely to pay attention to the activity, more likely to focus on the same thing as you, and will learn how to make choices for themselves. The early stages Negative experiences of social interaction can damage an autistic person’s confidence. Social interactions are likely to bring increased anxiety and be exhausting to participate in.

Try not to mislabel feelings: accept all feelings as equally acceptable and valid. Saying something like ‘Oh you must be so disappointed’ might not actually reflect what the child is feeling inside if they interpret situations differently. This might lead them to begin to distrust their intuition or begin to believe that it is not okay to feel how they do. Some students might find it easier to express their feelings through Lego therapy, art therapy or music therapy. Provide quiet spaces and keep them quiet. Some students will need time and space to recover from the social interaction of the rest of the school day. Make these spaces accessible to all to remove any stigma attached with using them. Eliminate as many sensory distractions in the environment as possible. If you suspect your child has selective mutism and help is not available, or there are additional concerns – for example, the child struggles to understand instructions or follow routines – speak to a GP and ask them to refer you to a local specialist service for a formal diagnosis.Watching series and films in English, or listening to audio designed for your level, is great for your pronunciation and intonation.

Some books recommendations here: 20 Powerful Books to Win You Friends and Influence More People 8. Practice Good Manners Teenagers and adults with selective mutism can find information and support at iSpeak and the Facebook group SM SpaceCafe. When someone is unable to communicate their needs, it's tempting to help by constantly doing things for them. For example, fetching their shoes and tying their shoelaces, bringing a biscuit. However, this may reduce opportunities for the person to communicate. Positive and negative reinforcement involves responding favourably to all forms of communication and not inadvertently encouraging avoidance and silence. Shaping involves using any technique that enables the person to gradually produce a response that's closer to the desired behaviour.

The main warning sign is the marked contrast in the child's ability to engage with different people, characterised by a sudden stillness and frozen facial expression when they're expected to talk to someone who's outside their comfort zone. Balloons and bubbles are high-interest items and can be easily adapted to involve two people. Blow up a balloon and then let it go so that it flies up in the air. Then blow up a balloon part-way and wait for a response before blowing it up to its full capacity. This could enhance interaction. A similar thing can be achieved with bubbles. Blow a few bubbles towards the person. Once their attention has been captured, close the container and wait for a response from them before you blow any more. Let the autistic person decide when to end an activity Time to talk has been specifically created to teach and develop social interaction skills and improve oral language skills for children aged between 4-6 years old. For others, there is some evidence of harm or ineffectiveness. For example, we do not believe that facilitated communication isan appropriate intervention for autistic people, as there is evidence that it is ineffective and can lead to significant harm.

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), where the person hands over a picture to request or express something.Medicine is only really appropriate for older children, teenagers and adults whose anxiety has led to depression and other problems.

Medicine should never be prescribed as an alternative to environmental changes and behavioural approaches. Though some health professionals recommend using a combination of medicine and behavioural therapies in adults with selective mutism. More confident children with selective mutism can use gestures to communicate – for example, they may nod for "yes" or shake their head for "no". Reward attempts to understand and communicate. By doing this you can increase the likelihood that they will try and do it again. By using praise and commenting on what has been achieved, the person can make a connection between their own actions and your specific words. Give a reason to communicate When mutism occurs as a symptom of post-traumatic stress, it follows a very different pattern and the child suddenly stops talking in environments where they previously had no difficulty.Try to relax and be yourself. Remember that everyone has their quirks, and you’ll be more likely to find a connection with someone by being yourself. Some autistic children are delayed in their use of language, and some autistic adults don't use speech. In those cases, other methods of communication need to be established. Socially Speaking: Pragmatic Social Skills Programme for Pupils with Mild to Moderate Learning Disabilities