Behavioural treatment programs and selectivity of speaking at follow-up in a sample of 25 selective mutes

Abstract

In a retrospective study, 25 children who had been selectively mute in school were followed up by means of questionnaires administered via their schools, 2-10 years after referral. Those given individual therapy programs with a behavioural content were more likely to have improved at follow-up than those given standard, school-based remedial programs. A further poor prognostic indicator was found to be an incidence of past or present mental illness in the immediate family. The present data provide preliminary evidence for an “at-risk” group, for whom follow-up prognosis is poor and for whom the early application of behavioural programs would seem advisable.