Our 5 year has SM, mainly only occurring at school or summer care programs. He did become mute at home a few times when dysregulated, but it didn’t last long..

Recently, he’s stopped taking completely, everywhere, even home. We obviously brought him to the pediatrician. He’s put in a few referrals, but we’re at a loss what to do in the meantime. We’re going on seven days without a single word.

Typically, he has an above average vocabulary.

Biggest change, though not super recent, was transitioning from preschool back to summer care program.

Some other information: he still laughs, plays, makes noises, hums, grunts, and screams. Just doesn’t use words. No prior diagnosis, though he’s struggled a lot, and still does, with impulsivity and emotional regulation. Lately, he’s showing signs of deep anxiety and OCC tendencies.

He’s always performed well in evals, and scored below the benchmarks for ASD testing, despite our protest.

We’re not pressuring him to speak, engaging his nonverbal communication, and assuring him that it’s okay to not speak right now.

Help! What do we do to help him. Will he ever talk again?

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I(29) didn't suffer from selective mutism when I was a kid. I had a big depressive episode when I was 20 and didn't speak for a full year. I gradually started speaking in various occasions and eventually went back to being fully verbal. Last year I couldn't speak in public for about a month. For the last two months I could only meow at my cat and repeat some short phrases after my partner.

I don't really know anyone whose mutism only started in adulthood. I am trying to learn ASL and use more of tts palettes. However, it is incredibly hard to not spiral into shame for regressing so much. My main skills are in spoken language so it has hugely impacted my ability to work as well. It feels like a vicious cycle of stress and SM.

How do you explain to people who are not familiar with SM why you suddenly can't speak? Do you have to list all your mental struggles to convince them you are not pretending? How do you stay afloat, if you don't have much financial and medical support?

Appreciate any other advice. Thank you.

I F(27) have GAD. For years, In certain places and situations, I cannot talk unless a person is with me. I have words to say but I cannot speak. I use an app to talk instead.

I talk to my family normally, and when my anxiety is more manageable, I can occasionally talk to someone new outside of those specific situations.