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This is a real interview with a parent whose child engaged with evidence-based outpatient services for selective mutism at the Center for Effective Therapy. They graduated from treatment a year ago and are now reflecting on the impact that the Baker Center had on their lives.

Kids with selective mutism are most often diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 8 years old. Identifying selective mutism and intervening at an early age provides the child with more opportunities for successful treatment and it can help them avoid a long and challenging future of potential academic, social, and emotional repercussions. Early intervention is key, and beginning interventions at the time that the symptoms appear has been shown to be the most effective timing for treatment success. Beginning treatment early can minimize the amount of time that the child is experiencing reinforcements and accommodations for their mutism.

Shyness at a young age is often considered developmentally appropriate and can be normal for many kids. However, there's a point when shyness can start to interfere with a child’s ability to engage with peers, teachers, and other fun, recreational activities. Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder that makes it difficult for a child to speak with others in specific settings. For instance, a child who cannot answer a question when called on by a teacher in school. Typically, kids with selective mutism struggle to speak in public settings but can speak comfortably at home and with family that they are familiar with. In the home setting, kids with selective mutism may feel more secure and relaxed, and their anxiety does not impact them as much.

As soon as December comes around, many of us wish for a jolly holiday season full of love and family time. Even so, the holiday season brings many hidden challenges, especially when your kids have vacation days off from school and you may have more travel or extended family plans than usual. We know that this is often the busiest time of the year for families, so here are some tips that you can use to make sure your holiday season is full of cheer even when you’re faced with family obstacles.

When faced with a problem, most of us turn to search engines like Google to find answers. With a world of information at our fingertips, searching up our symptoms when we’re feeling unwell has become a natural next step. If you have an unusually bad headache, or stomach pains that you haven’t had before, a quick search on Google will bring up hundreds of different diagnoses and potential treatments. Some of us may even know that dreaded feeling of scrolling and self-diagnosing the worst-case scenario.