Page 64 - Demo

56 %u00a9 Elklan Training Limited 2025Elklan Supporting Gestalt Language Processing %u2013 a Total Communication Approach%u2022 %u2018Not speaking is not connected to a lack of fluency in the language%u2019 i.e. the child or young person is not in an environment where they are exposed to a new language for the first time %u2022 %u2018The condition lasts at least one month%u2019 i.e. it is not a temporary episode of not speaking%u2022 %u2018This month should not be the first month of school%u2019 i.e. the first month of starting pre-school or school could present as a %u2018settling-in%u2019 period where any new starter may be uncomfortable in speaking%u2022 %u2018It doesn%u2019t occur exclusively because of schizophrenia, autism, or other diagnoses%u2019 i.e. Selective Mutism is associated with schizophrenia, and autism for other reasons.Steffenburg et al. (2018) studied the potential prevalence of autism in 97 children with Selective Mutism. The researchers concluded that 63% met the diagnostic criteria for autism. Autism and Selective Mutism may not be mutually exclusive and it is important to look at symptoms of both.There is no single cause of Selective Mutism and it can be present due to factors such as:%u2022 Life events, e.g. a family bereavement or significant changes such as moving home%u2022 Talking is a negative experience, avoidance is a positive experience.If a Gestalt Language Processing child or young person speaks at home but does not speak at school, then additional specialist support is required. Selective Mutism is a complex difference usually requiring the support of a multi-disciplinary team. The involvement of a clinical psychologist is important. For more information see the Reference section at the end of this book. SMIRA (The Selective Mutism Information and Research Association) provide useful information on their website. It may be important to consider the description of social anxiety (see page 84) to determine if the child or young person may benefit from support from a mental health care professional.