{"id":31467,"date":"2025-03-13T12:42:24","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T12:42:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/?page_id=31467"},"modified":"2026-01-21T11:45:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T11:45:12","slug":"selective-mutism","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/ordinarily-available-inclusive-provision\/targeted\/communication-and-interaction-needs\/selective-mutism\/","title":{"rendered":"Selective mutism"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"content-heading-quote clearfix \" id=\"block_acf-block-6970bc446278a\"><div class=\"hq-outer\"><h2><span class=\"hq-heading\">What is selective mutism?<\/span><span class=\"hq-icon\"><\/span><\/h2><div class=\"hq-intro\"><p>Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain situations but can speak in other situations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"content-boxes clearfix\" id=\"block_acf-block-6970bc44627c0\"><ul class=\"grid-x grid-margin-x small-up-1 medium-up-1 large-up-1\"><li class=\"cell box-contents\"><div class=\"box-contents-inner has-svg\"><div class=\"box-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" id=\"Layer_1\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\"><defs><style>.cls-1{fill:#222959;stroke-width:0}<\/style><\/defs><g id=\"Group_7793\"><path id=\"Path_2\" fill=\"#f0d85d\" stroke-width=\"0\" d=\"M17.57 2.73h24.27l16.17 16.5v23.01L41.84 60H18.41L1.48 42.24V19.23l16.09-16.5Z\"><\/path><g id=\"question-octagon\"><g id=\"Group_7792\"><path id=\"Path_6596\" d=\"M17.02.55c.35-.35.83-.55 1.32-.55h23.3c.5 0 .97.2 1.32.55l16.48 16.48c.35.35.55.83.55 1.32v23.3c0 .5-.2.97-.55 1.32L42.96 59.45c-.35.35-.83.55-1.32.55h-23.3c-.5 0-.97-.2-1.32-.55L.55 42.97A1.88 1.88 0 0 1 0 41.65v-23.3c0-.5.2-.97.55-1.32L17.02.55Zm2.1 3.2L3.75 19.12v21.75l15.38 15.38h21.75l15.38-15.38V19.12L40.88 3.74H19.13Z\" class=\"cls-1\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_6597\" d=\"M19.57 21.78c-.01.24.08.48.26.65.18.17.41.27.66.26h3.14c.52-.01.95-.41 1.01-.93.34-2.43 2.05-4.21 5.1-4.21 2.61 0 5 1.27 5 4.33 0 2.36-1.42 3.44-3.67 5.09-2.56 1.81-4.58 3.93-4.44 7.37v.8c.03.51.45.92.96.91h3.08c.52 0 .94-.41.95-.93v-.39c0-2.66 1.04-3.44 3.84-5.51 2.32-1.72 4.73-3.62 4.73-7.63 0-5.6-4.85-8.31-10.16-8.31-4.82 0-10.09 2.19-10.45 8.48Zm5.92 21.38c.05 1.96 1.68 3.5 3.64 3.45.07 0 .14 0 .2-.01 2.32 0 3.91-1.46 3.91-3.44s-1.6-3.49-3.91-3.49a3.534 3.534 0 0 0-3.82 3.23c0 .09-.01.17-.01.26Z\" class=\"cls-1\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg> <\/div><h3><strong>Identification<\/strong> &#8211; what you may see in the child or young person<\/h3><div class=\"box-content list-col-1\"><ul>\n<li>Will speak happily and freely in certain situations and environments but will be unable to speak in specific situations.<\/li>\n<li>May be totally silent in specific settings, for example school.<\/li>\n<li>May appear to be uninterested, nervous, uneasy or withdrawn.<\/li>\n<li>Actively avoids situations where they may be required to speak.<\/li>\n<li>The expectation to talk to certain people triggers a freeze response with feelings of anxiety and panic, and talking is impossible.<\/li>\n<li>May struggle to separate from parent carers.<\/li>\n<li>May be quiet at school but become distressed when they get home.<\/li>\n<li>May know the answer to questions but are not able to respond.<\/li>\n<li>Can find it difficult to ask for help, express their wants or needs or start conversations with others.<\/li>\n<li>May use other forms of communication, for example nodding or shaking head, gesture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"content-boxes clearfix\" id=\"block_acf-block-6970bc44627fa\"><ul class=\"grid-x grid-margin-x small-up-1 medium-up-1 large-up-1\"><li class=\"cell box-contents\"><div class=\"box-contents-inner has-svg\"><div class=\"box-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 65 60\"><g data-name=\"Group 1\"><path fill=\"#f0d85d\" d=\"M3 4h59v56H3z\" data-name=\"Rectangle 1619\"><\/path><path fill=\"#222959\" d=\"M4.434.004A4.59 4.59 0 0 0 0 4.736v50.528a4.59 4.59 0 0 0 4.434 4.74h56.132A4.59 4.59 0 0 0 65 55.264V4.736A4.59 4.59 0 0 0 60.566.004Zm1.476 6.31h53.18v47.372h-7.382v-3.155H38.41v3.155H5.91V6.314ZM32.5 18.947a4.748 4.748 0 1 0 4.432 4.738 4.592 4.592 0 0 0-4.432-4.738Zm-11.816 5.53a3.506 3.506 0 0 0 0 7 3.506 3.506 0 0 0 0-7Zm23.633 0a3.281 3.281 0 0 0-2.957 1.745 3.764 3.764 0 0 0 0 3.61 3.281 3.281 0 0 0 2.957 1.745 3.567 3.567 0 0 0 0-7.1ZM32.5 31.578a13.579 13.579 0 0 0-8.526 2.912 10.54 10.54 0 0 0-3.291-.544c-3.559 0-7.391 2.012-7.391 4.513v2.594h38.416v-2.594c0-2.5-3.832-4.513-7.391-4.513a10.548 10.548 0 0 0-3.291.544 13.579 13.579 0 0 0-8.526-2.912Z\" data-name=\"Path 6598\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg> <\/div><h3><strong>Planned<\/strong> provision in school<\/h3><div class=\"box-content list-col-1\"><p>Based on need, some of this provision will be effective.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Remove pressure on the child or young person to speak<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Provide and model other ways to communicate<\/strong>, for example visual cards, smiling, thumbs up.<\/li>\n<li>Provide reassurance that you understand how they are feeling and that they can take small steps when they are ready.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Create a positive environment for them to reduce anxiety<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>reassuring them that they&#8217;ll be able to speak when they&#8217;re ready<\/li>\n<li>concentrating on having fun<\/li>\n<li>praise all efforts the child or young person makes to join in and interact with others (do this subtly rather than publicly)<\/li>\n<li>not showing surprise when the child or young person speaks, but responding warmly as you would to any other<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk\/requesting-help-from-cfhd\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Ensure a referral has been made to SALT<\/a> and follow any programme recommended.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"content-boxes clearfix\" id=\"block_acf-block-6970bc4462e7a\"><ul class=\"grid-x grid-margin-x small-up-1 medium-up-1 large-up-1\"><li class=\"cell box-contents\"><div class=\"box-contents-inner has-svg\"><div class=\"box-icon\"><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?> <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 76.617 60\"><g data-name=\"Group 1\"><path fill=\"#f0d85d\" d=\"M1.371 3h73v52h-73z\" data-name=\"Rectangle 1638\"><\/path><g fill=\"#222959\"><path d=\"M46.517 13.632h19.154v5.473H46.517Z\" data-name=\"Path 6599\"><\/path><path d=\"M46.517 27.264h19.154v5.473H46.517Z\" data-name=\"Path 6600\"><\/path><path d=\"M46.517 40.896h19.154v5.473H46.517Z\" data-name=\"Path 6601\"><\/path><path d=\"M10.945 13.632h19.154v5.473H10.945Z\" data-name=\"Path 6602\"><\/path><path d=\"M10.945 27.264h19.154v5.473H10.945Z\" data-name=\"Path 6603\"><\/path><path d=\"M10.945 40.896h19.154v5.473H10.945Z\" data-name=\"Path 6604\"><\/path><path d=\"M71.144 0H5.473A5.469 5.469 0 0 0 0 5.455v49.09A5.469 5.469 0 0 0 5.473 60h65.671a5.469 5.469 0 0 0 5.473-5.455V5.455A5.469 5.469 0 0 0 71.144 0ZM5.473 5.455h30.1v49.09h-30.1Zm35.572 49.09V5.455h30.1v49.09Z\" data-name=\"Path 6625\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/svg> <\/div><h3><strong>Resources<\/strong> for schools<\/h3><div class=\"box-content list-col-1\"><h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Support services<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk\/resources\/our-guide-to-selective-mutism\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Our guide to selective mutism<\/a> | Children and Family Health Devon<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Further reading and information<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.selectivemutism.org.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Selective Mutism Information &amp; Research Association (SMIRA)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/mental-health\/conditions\/selective-mutism\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Selective mutism<\/a> | NHS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Resources to share with parents<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk\/resources\/selective-mutism-information-for-parents-and-carers\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Selective mutism: information for parents and carers &#8211; Children and Family Health Devon<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.i-speak.co.uk\/about-9\" rel=\"noopener\">iSpeak<\/a> &#8211; a voice for people with Selective Mutism<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":981,"featured_media":0,"parent":31445,"menu_order":9,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-31467","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-11 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