1. The child rarely speaks, even when prompted:
This may indicate that the child is affected by selective mutism. It is important to note how often the child speaks in other contexts, as there may be other reasons for the child's reluctance to speak in specific situations.
2. The child does not speak in specific settings or with specific people:
This may indicate that the child is affected by selective mutism and is not comfortable speaking with certain people or in certain settings. It is important to identify who these people or settings are, so that appropriate steps can be taken to help the child feel more comfortable speaking.
3. The child speaks in a whisper or with a very soft voice:
This may indicate that the child is affected by selective mutism and has difficulty speaking loudly enough for others to hear them. It is important to find out if the child has any difficulty speaking at all, or if they only have difficulty speaking loudly.
4. The child has difficulty speaking on the telephone:
This may indicate that the child is affected by selective mutism and has difficulty speaking in situations where they cannot see the person they are speaking to. It is important to find out if the child has any difficulty speaking at all, or if they only have difficulty speaking on the telephone.
5. The child avoids eye contact when speaking:
This may indicate that the child is affected by selective mutism and feels uncomfortable making eye contact when speaking. It is important to find out if the child has any discomfort making eye contact in any situation, or if they only have difficulty making eye contact when speaking.
6. The child's speech is difficult to understand:
This may indicate that the child is affected by selective mutism and has trouble communicating their thoughts clearly. It is important to find out if the problem is with understanding what the child says, or if they have difficulty saying anything at all.
7. The child has difficulty responding to questions:
This may indicate that the child is affected by selective mutism and has trouble thinking of things to say when asked questions. It is important to find out if the problem is with responding to any questions, or if they have trouble responding to certain types of questions.
8. The child takes a long time to answer questions:
This may indicate that the child is affected by selective mutism and needs more time than other children to process information and formulate a response. It is important to find out if the problem is with answering any questions, or if they only take a long time to answer certain types of questions.
9. The child's voice is monotone or lacks emotion:
This may indicate that the child is affected by selective mutism and has difficulty conveying emotions through their voice. It is important to find out if the problem is with the child's voice in general, or if they only have difficulty expressing emotions when speaking.
10. 10. There are pauses in the child's speech:
This may indicate that the child is affected by selective mutism and has difficulty finding things to say. It is important to find out if there are pauses in the child's speech in general, or if they only have difficulty speaking when they are asked questions.