Selective Mutism

Understanding Selective Mutism

Evidence-based guidance and strategies for navigating selective mutism, sometimes referred to as situational mutism.

Understanding SM6 articles
Understanding SM
Autism and Selective Mutism: What's the Link?
Autism and selective mutism can coexist — but one doesn't cause the other. Here's what the research says, and how to tell the difference.
Understanding SM
Can Selective Mutism Be Outgrown? The Honest Answer
Can children grow out of selective mutism without help? The research and real experience says: it's complicated. Here's what actually changes things.
Understanding SM
The Fear Paralysis Reflex: The Missing Piece in Selective Mutism?
Could a retained fear paralysis reflex explain the freeze response in selective mutism? An emerging area of research that parents are starting to ask about.
Understanding SM
Selective Mutism vs Situational Mutism: What's the Difference?
Is it selective mutism or situational mutism? Why the name is changing, what to call it at school and with the NHS, and why it matters.
Understanding SM
Sensory Processing and Selective Mutism: What's the Link?
Many children with selective mutism have sensory sensitivities too. Here's what the research says about the link, and what support actually looks like.
Understanding SM
What Is Selective Mutism? A Parent's Plain-English Guide
Selective mutism is not shyness. A parent who's lived it explains what it actually is, what causes it, and what to do first.
Getting support5 articles
Getting Support
EHCP, Selective Mutism and the New SEND System: What Parents Need to Know
Does selective mutism qualify for an EHCP? What does the new SEND white paper mean for your child? A parent's plain-English guide, with input from an EP.
Getting Support
Help With Selective Mutism: Where to Start
Overwhelmed and not sure where to begin with selective mutism support? Here's an honest map of what's available, what isn't, and what actually helped us.
Getting Support
Helping Others Understand Selective Mutism: A Guide for Families
How to explain selective mutism to classmates, siblings, family and other parents — and why the language you use matters more than you think.
Getting Support
How to Talk to Your Child's Teacher About Selective Mutism
You don't need a diagnosis to ask for help at school. Here's what to say to your child's teacher about selective mutism, and what actually makes a difference.
Getting Support
NHS, Private SALT or SM Pocket Coach: What Are Your Options?
A plain-talking guide to your support options for selective mutism in the UK — NHS, private speech therapy, and what I built when neither worked for us.
What helps6 articles
What Helps
My Child Won't Eat at School: Selective Mutism Beyond Talking
Selective mutism doesn't just affect speech. Many children won't eat at school either. Here's why, and the practical approach that worked for us.
What Helps
The Sliding In Technique for Selective Mutism: A Parent's Guide
The sliding in technique is the UK's go-to intervention for selective mutism. Here's how it works, why it's a huge ask, and what we did when it wasn't possible.
What Helps
Brave Steps: How to Build a Talking Ladder for Selective Mutism
The talking ladder for selective mutism explained — how we combined UK and US frameworks into a practical, working approach for Phoebe, step by step.
What Helps
Why Lowering Pressure Has to Come First With Selective Mutism
Before the talking ladder, before the playdates — your child's nervous system needs to feel safe first. Here's why, and what that looked like for us.
What Helps
The Power of Playdates for Selective Mutism (It Really Works)
How carefully arranged playdates helped my daughter with selective mutism go from 'I don't want friends' to whispering, then talking, then shouting.
What Helps
The Toilet Ladder: Cracking School Toileting With Selective Mutism
Toileting at school is one of the hardest things to crack with selective mutism. Here's the exact strategy we used, week by week, and how Phoebe got there.
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