Top Ten Myths About Selective Mutism
Myth #1
Selective mutism is extremely rare
The most recent study showed a prevalence rate for Selective Mutism of 7.1 per 1,000 children (Bergman, 2002). Older surveys ranged from 0.08 %, or 0.8 per 1,000 (Fundudis, 1979 ), to 1.8 per 1,000 children (Browne, 1979). Variation may be due to the methods of surveying used, the age of the children in the sample population, or inadequate recognition of symptoms by parents, medical, and educational professionals. Lack of knowledge about selective mutism leads to many of these children being labeled as “just shy” or misdiagnosed as autistic, so that any reports of the number of cases are likely to be falsely low.
Even the lower estimates show that SM is more common than other childhood disorders such as autism, cystic fibrosis, spina bifada, and muscular dystrophy. Presumably because of greater public awareness, though, these have received much more funding for research and thus are better understood.
Myth #2
Selectively mute children are typically severely emotionally disturbed, usually because they have suffered abuse, neglect or trauma.
This assumption is often seen in older case reports, although no evidence is offered; instead, there is an apparent presumption that children would not exhibit excessive fearfulness in social interactions unless their life experiences had taught them to react in that way. Recent advances in understanding the neurobiological circuitry of anxiety have given reason to believe that human beings are hard-wired to be vigilant to danger, and that in some individuals the gating mechanisms for this circuitry are overly sensitive. Thus, for these individuals, normal life events do trigger anxious responses in certain contexts.
The fear of being placed under suspicion of abuse may prevent parents from seeking help for their children. While there may be a legitimate concern that selectively mute children would be unable to speak out if they were victims of abuse, there is no reason to assume that such abuse is any more likely to be occurring with these children than with the average child (Black, Uhde, 1996).
Myth #3
Families of children with selective mutism are typically dysfunctional.
While epidemiological studies have shown a high incidence of social anxiety and other forms of anxiety and/or depression in the close relatives of selectively mute individuals, there is no evidence that family pathology causes the symptoms of selective mutism. Discussions in older literature characterize parents, particularly mothers, as being either poorly attached or overly attached to selectively mute children. This notion is very similar to the now-discarded theory about autism that was prevalent several decades ago, when poor maternal bonding was thought to be the cause of that disorder. In both cases, it is likely that any observed bonding difficulties between parent and child might be a result of the disorder rather than the cause. (read more…)
Source :: Selective Mutism Group ~ Childhood Anxiety Network