Selective Mutism and the COVID-19 Pandemic
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Selective mutism is more than introversion or shyness. It is a condition in which an individual has the cognitive and physical ability to speak but does not do so in certain situations due to substantial anxiety. A child’s transition from home to daycare, preschool, or any other public setting often marks the emergence of selective mutism. Although a relatively rare condition impacting less than 1% of the population, the impact on social and academic functioning can be devastating; a child may struggle to effectively interact with peers and make friends, present as oppositional or struggle with heightened emotionality, or experience difficulties demonstrating what they have learned in class.
Treating selective mutism often involves exposure-based therapies and behavioral interventions. However, the months of remote learning and quarantine secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to heightened anxiety upon returning to in-person learning; in other words, mandated avoidance of environments that cause distress (e.g., school, public settings) ultimately increases anxiety of the feared situation.
Further, the pandemic may have interfered with the timely identification of children who struggle with selective mutism. Some children with selective mutism may have thrived with remote classrooms’ chat functions or even with speaking aloud when using video platforms in the comfort of their own homes. Although this reflects positive outcomes for academic achievement, this may also delay a prompt diagnosis and subsequent treatment as the inability to speak occurs only in the presence of the feared situation. Additionally, difficulties understanding a child’s speech in the current sociopolitical climate may be misattributed to mask-muffling, when in fact unintelligibility may reflect traits of selective mutism.
The substantial anxiety associated with communicating in certain settings can persist into adulthood if left untreated and may contribute to worsening mood symptoms and poor socio-emotional outcomes, and it is important that parents, teachers, and clinicians remain aware of the possible impact of the pandemic on the development and course of selective mutism in children. More information can be found in the articles below.
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