Resources about Selective Mutism are still rare. I’ve compiled the following materials that can be used in the treatment of Selective Mutism or as caregivers helping children understand their differences. The storybooks and chapter books can be used to increase awareness with family members and peers; while the workbooks are excellent for processing strategies to remediate Selective Mutism. A read about personal experiences gains insight into the world of Selective Mutism.
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Story Books
The Mean Girl That Never Speaks (The Mya Dove Case Files)
There’s a new girl at school. Rumor has it she doesn’t speak, doesn’t smile much, and doesn’t play with others. That means she’s mean, right? Maybe not! Mya is hired to solve the case and discovers the reason for the new girl’s behavior and learns about her own actions toward others as well.
Mute Dog
Follow Oreo on his journey as he starts puppy school. Here, he will learn that everyone is scared of something, and practice is the key to overcoming your fears. Written by 8-year-old twin girls who suffer from social anxiety and selective mutism, this story explores the physical and emotional feelings that can be experienced with…
Can I Tell You About Selective Mutism?: A Guide for Friends, Family and Professionals
Meet Hannah – a young girl with selective mutism (SM). Hannah invites readers to learn about selective mutism from her perspective, helping them to understand what it is, what it feels like to have SM, and how they can help. This illustrated book is packed with accessible information and will be an ideal introduction to…
Mary-Ellen O’Keefe’s Word-Speaking Diet
Mary-Ellen O’Keefe is a smart and happy little girl who loves to talk, sing, ask questions, and generally speak her mind. That is, until her first day of school where the unfamiliarity of a new and different environment makes her nervous and shy and causes her to go on an unexpected and very unusual “Word-Speaking…
Willow’s Words
Willow’s Words is the story of a girl who found her voice through dance, and how everyone around her learned to listen.
Charli’s Choices
Charli’s Choices is a beneficial, interactive children’s book for educators, children, and parents that offers valuable insight into selective mutism. A little girl’s mother teaches her during a play date, through specific questions, how to communicate successfully with her friend.
Willow’s Whispers
When Willow speaks, her words slip out as soft and shy as a secret. At school, her barely audible whisper causes her no end of troubles. But Willow is as resourceful as she is quiet, and she fashions a magic microphone from items she finds in the recycling bin. But Willow’s clever invention is only…
Mason is Learning to Roar
Mason is a young lion with Selective Mutism. With support from his parents and teachers, Mason slowly learns to overcome his anxiety in the classroom. This book also emphasizes that treating Selective Mutism requires patience and understanding since progress and behavioral change is slow. However, each small gain should be celebrated.
Why Doesn’t Alice Talk at School
Why doesn’t Alice talk at school is a beautifully illustrated book that can be read to peers to help them to understand selective mutism. This book explains important messages which will help to create a supportive class environment for the child with selective mutism.
My Name is Ben and I Don’t Talk Sometimes
Ben shares, in a child-friendly way, his feelings around talking and interwoven into the story is the intervention of how he begins to make steps forward.
My Name is Eliza and I Don’t Talk at School
This book opens with a section for adults to read before presenting the story to the child. Eliza’s charming story then follows. Eliza describes how she feels in different situations. She begins to overcome her fear with small steps and easy methods that parents and therapists can adopt.
I Have a Voice
Jamie is about to start kindergarten, but has a big problem…she’s afraid to speak. Mom introduces Jamie to Dr. Faye, a feelings doctor who not only helps Jamie speak, but helps her to feel better about herself. See how she overcomes her fears.
Nathaniel Speaks
A gentle approach to children ages 4-11 who may struggle with things ranging from shyness, selective mutism, anxiety, or just the first day of school.
Too Shy for Show and Tell
Sam is a quiet little boy who hates show-and-tell. Just thinking about it makes his stomach hurt. Sam must find a way to conquer his fear of show-and-tell.
Can’t Talk? Want to Talk!
When outgoing Lily meets a little girl who is too afraid to talk in school or other places outside of her home, she befriends the silent girl, their friendship grows, and the silent girl feels comfortable enough to talk to her new friend.
Leo’s Words Disappeared
As Leo starts school, something strange happens. His words disappear! Now Leo must find new ways to give his words the courage to come back. A fun and practical introduction to different techniques of anxiety management, specifically used for children with selective mutism.
Lola’s Words Disappeared
As Lola starts school, something strange happens. Her words disappear! Now Lola must find new ways to give her words the courage to come back. A fun and practical introduction to different techniques of anxiety management, specifically used for children with selective mutism.
My Friend Daniel Doesn’t Talk
When outgoing Ryan meets Daniel, a boy who is too afraid to talk in school or other places outside of his home, he befriends the silent boy, defending him in school to the other children. Their friendship grows, and Daniel feels comfortable enough to talk to his new friend.
The Loudest Roar
Angus has a fantastic roar. It is so loud, it gives his Dad a headache! But his roar doesn’t always work, leaving Angus feeling sad, angry and alone. This book describes what it can feel like to have Selective Mutism and how even though you cannot express things in words, you can still do amazing…
Maya’s Voice
Maya is a bright-eyed, inquisitive little girl who loves to share her sweet voice. But when she starts school, she loses the confidence to use her voice and goes about her school day in silence. With time, patience, understanding, and love from all those around her, Maya discovers her sweet voice.
Workbooks
Leo’s Words Disappeared and Came Back
This activity book and journal takes learning into the practical phase by providing questions that generate personal awareness. It reinforces key tools and techniques, and allows Leo’s journey to be a conduit for personal growth.
Lola’s Words Disappeared and Came Back
This activity book and journal takes learning into the practical phase by providing questions that generate personal awareness. It reinforces key tools and techniques, and allows Lola’s journey to be a conduit for personal growth.
Raising Voices: A workbook for parents, teachers, and kids with Selective Mutism
This book is intended as an activity book for caregivers to children with a diagnosis of Selective Mutism (SM) based on years of clinical experience and research. Various activities with a Cognitive Behavioral slant are outlined in addition to tips for caregivers. Enjoy the illustrations and reading the book together with your child. Then, use…
Can I Tell You About Selective Mutism?: A Guide for Friends, Family and Professionals
Meet Hannah – a young girl with selective mutism (SM). Hannah invites readers to learn about selective mutism from her perspective, helping them to understand what it is, what it feels like to have SM, and how they can help. This illustrated book is packed with accessible information and will be an ideal introduction to…
Chapter Books
After Zero
A series of social missteps convinces eighth-grader Elise that remaining silent is preferable to saying the wrong thing and looking foolish. Elise’s journey will speak to anyone who has struggled to find their voice, overcome their doubts, and discover their own self-worth.
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things
Alvin, an Asian American second grader, is afraid of everything—elevators, tunnels, girls, and, most of all, school. He’s so afraid of school that, while he’s there, he never, ever, says a word. But at home, he’s a very loud superhero!
Resource Books
Helping Your Child with Selective Mutism
This book is the first available for parents of children with selective mutism. It offers a broad overview of the condition and reviews the diagnostic criteria for the disorder. The book details a plan you can use to coordinate professional treatment of your child’s disorder. It also explains the steps you can take on your…
Understanding Selective Mutism: A Beginner’s Guide
This book is a 30 page, clear and concise introduction to selective mutism; it is an excellent tool for parents to lend to family members and school staff to help them to gain an understanding of selective mutism in a short amount of time. There are often misconceptions surrounding this condition; the aim of this…
The Selective Mutism Resource Manual
For anyone who needs to understand, assess or manage selective mutism, this is a comprehensive and practical manual that is grounded in behavioural psychology and anxiety management and draws on relevant research findings as well as the authors’ extensive clinical experience.
The Selective Mutism Treatment Guide: Manuals for Parents Teachers and Therapists. Second Edition: Still waters run deep
The Selective Mutism Treatment Guide: Manuals for Parents, Teachers, and Therapists, second edition has arrived! It is double the size of the first edition and it includes new sections on treating older children and teens, the use of technology in treating SM with a list of useful apps, raising a shy child, treating SM in…
Selective Mutism: An Assessment and Intervention Guide for Therapists, Educators & Parents
Selective Mutism: A Guide for Therapists, Educators, and Parents provides an effective, research-based behavioral intervention plan for the successful treatment of Selective Mutism. Based on years of clinical experience and expertise, author Dr. Aimee Kotrba provides not only assessment and treatment information, but also case examples, easy-to-implement workbook sheets, and informative handouts. Dr. Kotrba is…
Overcoming Selective Mutism: The Parent’s Field Guide
Overcoming Selective Mutism is a comprehensive guidebook offering parents the knowledge and guidance they need to move their child beyond silence. The authors offer a creative and motivating Journey theme to introduce tools that help parents and children plan and conquer some of the most common challenges associated with selective mutism. Parents can be important…
Personal Experiences
Living Beyond the Silence: Learning to Overcome Selective Mutism, Severe Shyness, and Other Childhood Anxieties
Follow Gaye James as she shares her heartwarming journey raising her son through selective mutism from silence to success.
WORDS OF A MUTE GIRL: A true compelling story about my struggle with Selective Mutism and my victory overcoming it
This biographical guide is a valuable tool which has proven to have successfully paved the way to overcoming the debilitating disorder of Selective Mutism. The author shares very intimate experiences about her journey— the negative roadblocks, symptoms and characteristics of SM, and the techniques she implemented in order to overcome the paralyzing silence. She passionately…
Selective Mutism In Our Own Words: Experiences in Childhood and Adulthood
Exploring all aspects of SM, from symptoms and diagnostic criteria, to triggers and the consequences of being psychologically unable to speak, the stories in this book dispel the myths around this often misunderstood condition. Far from refusing to talk, or choosing not to, the contributors offer genuine insights into why they simply cannot speak in…
Articles by Joleen Fernald
What to Tell Your Child
Depending on your child’s age, you may want to share that you are going to a place to play. There are toys and swings and games. For younger children, this explanation is usually sufficient. For older children and adolescents, it’s important to be open and up front. Be honest… your child is coming to meet…
What is Selective Mutism?
DIRFloortime® in Treating Selective Mutism Selective Mutism has been described as a social communication anxiety disorder (The Selective Mutism Group, n.d.). Though its prevalence is considered rare in the DSM-IV (APA, 2004), research by Bergman et al (2002) showed that 1 in 143 elementary school-aged children met the diagnostic criteria for Selective Mutism. Selective Mutism…