Polls and Surveys: A Creative Path to Social Communication for Children & Teens with Selective Mutism

By Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum

Children and teens with Selective Mutism (SM) often struggle with the natural give-and-take of conversations. Initiating, responding, and elaborating can feel overwhelming when social communication anxiety takes over. The SM Interview process was designed for to help with the give/take of social communication.

One creative and engaging tool that can support progress is the use of polls and surveys. Far from being just a fun classroom activity, polls and surveys can act like an interview process, giving children opportunities to practice back-and-forth communication in a structured, low-pressure way.

Why Polls and Surveys Work

Polls and surveys provide predictability and structure, two essential ingredients for children and teens with SM. Instead of being caught off guard by open-ended questions, the child knows what to expect, questions are brief, choices are clear, and responses can be given nonverbally, through pointing, circling, or even digitally. This predictability lowers anxiety while still allowing the child to participate in a social exchange.

Most importantly, polls and surveys are interactive. They aren’t one-way questions with one-word answers; they’re designed to encourage the child to ask others questions, collect responses, and sometimes report back. This makes them an excellent tool for practicing the rhythm of communication, the give and take, just like a mini-interview.

How Polls Support the Social Communication Bridge®

Polls and surveys can be adapted to fit a child’s stage on the Social Communication Bridge®:

Stage 1: Nonverbal Communication

Children can point to choices, hold up response cards, or check boxes on a survey sheet. For example: “What’s your favorite fruit? 🍎 🍌 🍇 🍊” The child can point or circle the answer.

Stage 2: Transitional Verbal

The child may whisper answers to a Verbal Intermediary®, use augmentative devices, or even record their voice when conducting a poll. They might practice asking a buddy to help: “Ask her what snack she likes best.”

Stage 3: Verbal Communication

Children can verbally ask questions (“What’s your favorite sport?”), listen to the answer, and then practice follow-ups using strategies like Copy Back (“Oh, you like soccer? I like soccer too!”). This builds not only initiation but also elaboration.

Making It Fun and Engaging

Polls and surveys can be gamified and tied to areas of interest:

In school, a child can survey classmates on favorite books 📚, games 🎮, or recess activities 🛝.
At home, siblings or cousins can take turns polling each other on snacks 🍪 or weekend plans.
In the community, a child might use a clipboard or tablet to “interview” people at a family gathering or even order-takers at a restaurant.

Humor can be woven in, too: “Which teacher has the funniest socks?” or “What’s the silliest ice cream flavor you would eat?” Laughter naturally lowers anxiety and builds comfort.

The Bigger Goal: An Interview-Like Process

Think of polls and surveys as practice interviews. Each question-and-answer exchange strengthens the child’s ability to:

Initiate (ask a question)
Receive (listen to the response)
Respond Back (comment, smile, nod, or ask another question)

This is the foundation of real-world communication—whether it’s talking with peers, answering teachers, or joining group discussions. Over time, the child learns that communication doesn’t have to feel like a performance. Instead, it’s a natural flow of curiosity and connection.

A Practical Example

Imagine a child preparing to survey classmates with the question: “What’s your favorite animal? 🐶 🐱 🦁 🐢 🐬”

At first, the child circles or points when others answer.
Next, they whisper responses to a buddy, who records them.
Eventually, they ask the question directly and may even add, “Me too—I love dolphins!”

What began as a simple poll becomes a structured, confidence-building social communication exercise!

Parent/Teacher Takeaway:

Polls and surveys are not just playful activities; they’re therapeutic tools. By framing them as mini-interviews, children with Selective Mutism can practice initiation, reciprocity, and elaboration in a way that feels safe, predictable, and engaging.