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35,847 claims
Medicine should not replace environmental changes or behavioural approaches in treating selective mutism.
Medicine should never be prescribed as an alternative to environmental changes and behavioural approaches. Though some health professionals recommend using a combination of medicine and behavioural therapies in adults with selective mutism.
Service · Policy statement · From Selective mutism, [page]
Medicine is only appropriate for older children and adults with severe anxiety leading to depression.
Medicine is only really appropriate for older children, teenagers and adults whose anxiety has led to depression and other problems.
Service · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Desensitisation involves reducing sensitivity to others hearing one's voice through sharing recordings.
Desensitisation is a technique that involves reducing the person's sensitivity to other people hearing their voice by sharing voice or video recordings. For example, email or instant messaging could progress to an exchange of voice recordings or voicemail messages, then more direct communication, such as telephone or Skype conversations.
Service · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Positive reinforcement involves responding favourably to all forms of communication and avoiding encouragement for avoidance or silence.
Positive and negative reinforcement involves responding favourably to all forms of communication and not inadvertently encouraging avoidance and silence.
Service · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Shaping involves gradually moving towards desired behaviour through small steps, such as from non-verbal communication to two-way conversation.
Shaping involves using any technique that enables the person to gradually produce a response that's closer to the desired behaviour. For example, starting with non-verbal communication, gradually moving to making eye contact, saying short words and then longer sentences and, finally, 2-way conversation.
Service · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Stimulus fading involves gradually introducing more people into situations where the person with selective mutism feels comfortable.
In stimulus fading, the person with selective mutism communicates at ease with someone, such as their parent, when nobody else is present. Another person is gradually introduced into the situation and, once they're included in talking, the parent withdraws.
Service · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Graded exposure involves tackling situations causing the least anxiety first, with repeated exposure to reduce anxiety.
In graded exposure, situations causing the least anxiety are tackled first. With realistic targets and repeated exposure, the anxiety associated with these situations decreases to a manageable level.
Service · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Behavioural therapy uses a gradual step-by-step approach to help individuals overcome fears related to selective mutism.
Behavioural therapy concentrates on helping combat current difficulties using a gradual step-by-step approach to help conquer fears.
Service · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps individuals focus on how they think about themselves, the world and others.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps a person focus on how they think about themselves, the world and other people, and how their perception of these things affects their thoughts and feelings.
Service · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Older children with selective mutism may require individual support to overcome their anxiety.
As well as these environmental changes, older children may need individual support to overcome their anxiety.
Service · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Medicine is only appropriate for older children, teenagers, and adults with severe anxiety.
Medicine should never be prescribed as an alternative to environmental changes and behavioural approaches. Though some health professionals recommend using a combination of medicine and behavioural therapies in adults with selective mutism.
Service · Procedural statement · From Selective mutism, [page]
Cognitive behavioural therapy and graded exposure are techniques used to treat selective mutism.
There are several techniques based on CBT and behavioural therapy that are useful in treating selective mutism. These can be used at the same time by individuals, family members and school or college staff
Service · Procedural statement · From Selective mutism, [page]
Treatment focuses on reducing anxiety associated with speaking, not the act of speaking itself.
Treatment does not focus on the speaking itself, but reducing the anxiety associated with speaking.
Service · Procedural statement · From Selective mutism, [page]
Children with selective mutism may have additional speech and language difficulties, social anxieties, and fears.
A child with selective mutism will often have other fears and social anxieties, and they may also have additional speech and language difficulties.
Context · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
GP or local integrated care board should provide the telephone number of nearest NHS speech and language therapy service.
Your GP or local integrated care board (ICB) should be able to give you the telephone number of your nearest NHS speech and language therapy service or another specialist service that can help in your area.
Commissioning · Procedural statement · From Selective mutism, [page]
Early diagnosis and appropriate management can help children overcome selective mutism successfully.
A child can successfully overcome selective mutism if it's diagnosed at an early age and appropriately managed.
Policy · Commitment statement · From Selective mutism, [page]
Experts regard selective mutism as a fear (phobia) of talking to certain people, associated with anxiety.
Experts regard selective mutism as a fear (phobia) of talking to certain people. The cause is not always clear, but it's known to be associated with anxiety.
Context · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
The main warning sign is a marked contrast in the child's ability to engage with different people, often first noticed when they start nursery or school.
It's often first noticed when the child starts to interact with people outside their family, such as when they begin nursery or school. The main warning sign is the marked contrast in the child's ability to engage with different people
Context · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Selective mutism affects about 1 in 140 young children and is more common in girls and recently migrated children.
Selective mutism affects about 1 in 140 young children. It's more common in girls and children who have recently migrated from their country of birth.
Context · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]
Selective mutism usually starts during childhood and can persist into adulthood if untreated.
It usually starts during childhood and, if left untreated, can persist into adulthood.
Context · Observational claim · From Selective mutism, [page]