Pressure to speak makes selective mutism worse. Reducing pressure is the first and most important step.
What schools should NOT do
- Bribe the child to speak
- Praise them publicly when they do
- Ask them direct questions in class
- Force eye contact
- Single them out
- Promise rewards for speaking
- Mention their mutism in front of peers
What helps
- Phase 1: Reduce pressure — allow gestures, nodding, written or whispered communication
- Phase 2: Build trust — one trusted adult, low-demand time
- Phase 3: Small steps — sliding-in technique (parent talks with child; staff member joins gradually)
- Predictable routine, advance warning of changes
- Permission to NOT do register, presentations, reading aloud
- A non-verbal way to signal toilet, pain, distress
- Communication card (e.g. "I have selective mutism, please don''t put me on the spot")
EHCPs
SM alone doesn''t always need an , but it might if:
- Co-occurring autism, or significant anxiety
- Mutism extends beyond school (mute in shops, with extended family)
- Significant impact on learning
support
Ask your for referral to:
- Speech and language therapy () with SM training
- if the anxiety is severe
Source: SMIRA, RCSLT guidance on SM.