EP54 of the Unspoken Words podcast features our latest installment of our Ask Dr. E series, where we answer real questions from our listeners.
In the episode, we answer five questions, including how to manage inappropriate behavior in public, recommended summer jobs for a teen with SM, selective mutism vs just refusing not to speak & more.
How can I help my 8-year-old manage loud, inappropriate restaurant behavior?
In this clip, Dr. E responds to a question that pertains to parenting and selective mutism.
A parent asks about their 8-year-old son who has recently found his voice but is now behaving inappropriately in public. Dr. E suggests this may be experimentation with newfound vocal abilities, advising parents to support the child by acknowledging progress while guiding appropriate behavior.
She also recommends being honest about your child, and actively assessing for possible underlying developmental concerns if inappropriate behaviors are consistent across settings.
What summer jobs work for my 15-year-old daughter with selective mutism?
In this clip, Dr. E suggests a handful of ideal summer jobs for teens with Selective Mutism and social anxiety.
Dr. E emphasises understanding a teen’s communication barriers and anxiety triggers while prioritizing jobs where they can leverage a verbal intermediary or work independently. Recommended summer jobs for anxious teens involve backend roles, animal care positions, or remote work opportunities to avoid direct public interaction and reduce social pressure.
These anxiety-friendly jobs serve as motivation for progress in Selective Mutism therapy and treatment, with the ultimate goal of building confidence and preparing teens for more customer-facing roles and social situations in the future.
What strategies help an 8-year-old with selective mutism and oppositional behaviors?
In this clip, Dr. E advises a school-based therapist on effective strategies for an 8-year-old child with Selective Mutism and oppositional defiant behaviors in the classroom.
Dr. E highlights the need to understand underlying causes of challenging behaviors, clarifying that oppositional behaviors in children with anxiety often result from frustration, communication difficulties, and misunderstanding, not necessarily oppositional defiant disorder or ODD.
She suggests a comprehensive assessment of the child’s social skills development, peer relationships and friendships, and potential learning disabilities or academic challenges to create targeted behavioral interventions and classroom accommodations for anxious students.
How do you distinguish selective mutism from conscious refusal to speak?
In this clip, Dr. E answers a parent’s question about identifying if their 16-year-old teenager’s nonverbal behavior and refusal to speak is due to selective mutism or a conscious choice to remain silent.
She explains that selective mutism in teenagers results from conditioned anxiety responses and communication difficulties, not a deliberate decision or defiant behavior. Dr. E stresses the importance of parental compassion, understanding teenage anxiety, and meeting the teen where they are emotionally, working together as a family to uncover underlying mental health issues and address communication barriers through therapy.
Dr. E also highlights the critical importance of parental involvement and family support in building their teenager’s confidence, social skills development, and verbal communication skills for better peer relationships and academic success.
Should I relocate with my 4-year-old who has selective mutism?
In this clip, Dr. E addresses how relocating and moving to a Spanish-speaking country in Central America could impact a 4-year-old child with selective mutism and anxiety disorders.
She considers if the child speaks Spanish as a second language and discusses sensory sensitivities and overstimulation that bilingual children with selective mutism may experience during international moves. Dr. E advises gradual language transition strategies for anxious children, starting with an English immersion school or bilingual education program, and stresses the importance of maintaining comfort, emotional safety, and family connection during major life changes.
Dr. E underscores the critical need for involving a child therapist or selective mutism specialist and securing the new school’s special education support and classroom accommodations to ease the transition for children with communication disorders.
