Is It Selective Mutism Or Autism? Exploring The Differences

[@annabiavatislt]

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[@amyn3262]

Great video on selective mutism. Loved the ice cream approach about autistic people. Only thing I don’t agree with is is that you said autistic people can’t have facial expressions and don’t have flexible thinking this is false if anything as an austitic individual myself I have more facial expressions and often have a hard time controlling my facial expressions. Understand you said you are not an expert on autism though. Great information on selective mutism though. Very helpful!

[@selectivemutismawareness7865]

Hey Amy! Thank you for learning more about SM! I myself have both SM and autism - as well as other conditions! I would love to chat with you and connect! Hope to hear from you soon!

[@terrimeakin-rosario9189]

you are great. i am same.

[@frankgrimace7913]

Amy I think you missed the very true statement at the beginning of the video that 'no two people on the spectrum are exactly the same (if you've met one person with Autism, the you've met one person with Autism). As a recently diagnosed autistic adult at (60) I have been aware for many many years that my face lacks expression at all (commonly described as resting B**ch face), and all my life phrases like "smile/cheer up" or whats wrong? It may never happen! have been repeataivley said to me. I also have a monotone voice that also lacks inflection when I speak, I believe that years ago this may have been diagnosed as being part of Asperger's Syndrome. as for concrete thinking sometimes I'm immovable from my thoughts/notions /ideas other times I can be flexible, not sure why its like that but I'm just discovering my ASD self

[@kawag6356]

Totally agree

[@guesswho5790]

What happens to adults whose SM went untreated? Will they experience the same difficulties in the anxiety provoking environments? I'm not sure if I'm autistic or just severely emotionally neglected, and abused in teen hood. But I feel it's the latter. I get very quiet and meek around dominant personalities. They are scary. And I struggle to get the words out and form an articulate opinion like I usually do around other nice people. Or just people I feel comfortable with. I am very easily intimidated. Or I guess they perceive as an easy target. Idk. What are your thoughts? Edit: I'm wondering and researching because I went mute when we moved from my birthplace to Spain and had a very profound culture shock. I was 2 yo. It went away when we decided to speak in English at home and in Spanish with the rest of the world. But I always, ALWAYS felt like I had two seperste personalities. One at home, where I was bubbly and outgoing. And a more submissive and quiet version at school. Not with my close friends though. Please help.

[@annabiavatislt]

SM should not be left untreated as the anxiety grows. It sounds like you have done some research, how old are you now now? Where and when can you communicate?

[@janetvanantwerp8899]

My daughter had SM diagnosed at age 5. But she was an anxious baby, as well, if that makes sense. She couldn’t sleep anywhere but her own bed, just seeing strangers made her cry. She was a high profile SM, wouldn’t even make non verbal communication with a stranger. Quit talking to one of her primary caregivers at age 4(her grandmother) after having been very close to her, but then she moved away for 2 mos and then communication stopped. A couple years after her SM diagnosis, she was diagnosed with Friedreich’s Ataxia. Suddenly SM was no longer the issue. But the SM didn’t go away. I had been reassured she was NOT autistic a believed that 100%, because she was normal around us. But now that I have read more about autism spectrum disorder, I do believe she was slightly on the spectrum. So I guess my thoughts are that all children diagnosed with SM should probably be thoroughly evaluated for ASD as well. It would have helped in ,any ways in school, etc.

[@kawag6356]

Agree, we are now just learning my daughter is autistic at 13.5, SM started when school started.

[@imani6547]

Hello. Can a child have selective mutism because they have a speech delay? For instance, a toddler can make small sentences and spontaneous talk at home (although delayed), but does not do this at school or with strangers.

[@annabiavatislt]

That is an amazing question. You need to monitor how and how much your child communicates in the different environments. Children with SM can also have a speech dely. As a specialist in SM I would say that it is important to have an evaluation

[@annabiavatislt]

Depending where you live, you really need to undrestand and apply the strategies immediately. If you need any more info please feel free to conatct me at [e-mail]

[@ventrust7507]

Selective is really the wrong word to describe the event. One doesn’t select it. It just happens. And, you’re wrong, selective mutism is not social anxiety it’s a neurological phenomenon. If you haven’t experienced it you really don’t know what it is. It feels like physical sudden fatigue. It may very well be tied to being autistic and not really two separate things.

[@annabiavatislt]

I understand what you are saying and this is the name it has been given and we know that it is not a choice. We are very aware of that. In the DSM5 is classified under anxiety disorders. Thank you for sharing your experience

[@lulabylivesinmackay]

Great video! Thank you for sharing! Would you please provide some examples about the "flexible thinking"? Thank you again ❤

[@selectivemutismawareness7865]

Hey! Thank you for learning more about SM! Do you have it yourself or do you know someone who does?

[@frankgrimace7913]

I originally came here hoping to learn about SM as my daughter was diagnosed with SM while at primary school here in the UK at around 6 yrs old, now at 19, she remains unable to express herself at times, but has gone on to be referred by eating disorder professionals for an ASD assessment, my family have a history of autism 3/4 children have been diagnosed with it as well as myself. At this time she is currently battling against Anorexia which we believe started also in primary school but was only diagnosed 3 years ago and has been hospitalized in ED hospital over that last 4 years either as informal or detained, and I hoped to learn if there are any links between all this for her so we could help her.she has no overt evidence of SM anymoreshe has no overt evidence of SM anymore

[@annabiavatislt]

HI Frank SM can coexist with many other difficulties, did you say that her communication is improving?