SM is a widely misunderstood and under diagnosed condition. Often adults will mistake SM for shyness or at worst defiance. It is vital that those who regularly interact with an individual with SM understand the causes and symptoms specific to the individual in order to support the development of speaking confidence. Once adults in the individuals environment understand that the behaviour exhibited is a fear response, half the battle is won.

 

There are still widely held misconceptions that a child is being obstinate or refusing to talk and/or work. It is vital to discuss with people that for individuals with SM it is the anxiety and fear of communicating (be it written or spoken) that is causing them to act in a certain way. This can be difficult for others to understand when they see that the individual is able to speak without hesitation in some situations and/or has behaviours that fluctuate across the day. Discussion about anxiety in general can support this e.g. the hesitation and slowness in approaches to work, silly behaviours such as poking others and apparent “ignoring” behaviours are all features of anxiety. The individual is either in shut down mode similar to an adult having stage fright when delivering a speech and/or the child may be attempting to interact with others but struggling to know how. It is vital that the child has a speech and language assessment to identify the presence of any social communication or language difficulties that may also be contributing to a child’s performance at school.

 

Family members and friends also need to be supported to understand SM and how to approach someone with the condition. Well meaning adults may be unknowingly putting pressure on the child to speak therefore increasing their understanding can help to reduce demands on the child to talk initially and support their involvement in treatment programmes in the future.

 

I have found the following books and videos useful in supporting understanding around SM.