<p>Selektiv mutism är en störning som försämrar prestationsförmågan i studier eller arbete samt försvårar kommunikationen. Störningen gör att barnet oftast avstår att tala på förskolan, sexårsverksamheten samt på skolan medan det däremot talar helt obehindrat hemma. Syftet var att få en ökad förståelse för hur några pedagogers arbete påverkas av vilken kunskap de har om och hur de arbetar med elever som har selektiv mutism. Undersökningen har genomförts utifrån fyra kvalitativa intervjuer med pedagoger som arbetar i tre olika kommuner i Sverige. Urvalet har gjorts utifrån deras erfarenheter av att arbeta med barn som har selektiv mutism och deras tillgång alternativt avsaknad av handledning i ämnet. Tre kvinnliga och en manlig pedagog har intervjuats och deras erfarenhetsområde utgörs av sex-årsverksamhet, grundskola, grundsärskola och gymnasiesärskola. En pedagog har erhållit begränsad handledning i ett tidigt skede, en annan har fått och får kontinuerlig handledning medan de övriga två inte har fått någon handledning alls. Resultatet påvisade ett stort behov av handledning samtidigt som ytterst få i Sverige har den speciella kompetens, som krävs för att kunna bistå med det.</p>

Selektiv mutism är en störning som försämrar prestationsförmågan i studier eller arbete samt försvårar kommunikationen. Störningen gör att barnet oftast avstår att tala på förskolan, sexårsverksamheten samt på skolan medan det däremot talar helt obehindrat hemma. Syftet var att få en ökad förståelse för hur några pedagogers arbete påverkas av vilken kunskap de har om och hur de arbetar med elever som har selektiv mutism. Undersökningen har genomförts utifrån fyra kvalitativa intervjuer med pedagoger som arbetar i tre olika kommuner i Sverige. Urvalet har gjorts utifrån deras erfarenheter av att arbeta med barn som har selektiv mutism och deras tillgång alternativt avsaknad av handledning i ämnet. Tre kvinnliga och en manlig pedagog har intervjuats och deras erfarenhetsområde utgörs av sex-årsverksamhet, grundskola, grundsärskola och gymnasiesärskola. En pedagog har erhållit begränsad handledning i ett tidigt skede, en annan har fått och får kontinuerlig handledning medan de övriga två inte har fått någon handledning alls. Resultatet påvisade ett stort behov av handledning samtidigt som ytterst få i Sverige har den speciella kompetens, som krävs för att kunna bistå med det.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-91).

The problem of this study was to provide a more comprehensive and accurate profile of various aspects of selective mutism—family atmosphere/dynamics, aetiology and manifestations of mutism, usages and outcomes of therapeutic approaches, and a profile of the affected child—and to provide a more comprehensive and consistent basis to guide effective treatment strategies and facilitate additional research. A content analysis of case studies of selective mute children completed from 1929-1994 was used to educe this data.

Due to the nature of the condition, research into selective mutism has tended towards quantitative analyses or individual case studies. This study aimed to explore the personal experiences of adolescents with selective mutism whilst considering the threats to validity that exist in previous qualitative studies. In a series of case studies (n=6), methods of eliciting data derived from Personal Construct Psychology were employed. Experience Cycle Methodology was used to explore the process of construing, whilst the Repertory Grid Technique enabled an exploration of the structure of construing. It was hoped that these methods might identify obstacles to change and inform appropriate interventions. Results suggested that mutism may be ‘chosen’ because it may enable greater anticipation of their interpersonal relationships than does speaking. Furthermore, there were suggestions that selective mutism may be a way of avoiding possible invalidation. Further research into sociality and systemic discourse was proposed in order to understand this condition further.

This study addresses a problem of speech disruption as an individual abruptly and without explanation stops speaking to those around her. The matter for investigation involves the meaning this event has for those who are closely involved with this individual either in a practical day to day way or in a continuing relationship.

Selective mutism (SM) is a diagnosis marked by withdrawal of speech in certain social situations. The treatment of SM is often a difficult and lengthy process and there are many barriers to successful intervention. Behavioral therapy is most effective in the treatment of SM and the addition of therapeutic activities such as games and mobile devices may provide distinct advantages to this treatment (i.e., decreased patient anxiety levels and more active engagement). The current investigation examined the utility of mobile applications during the behavioral treatment of SM as well as the effect of using mobile applications on child-reported and physiological indicators of anxious responding. Results indicated that children made remarkable treatment gains in just two treatment sessions (i.e., spoke to the clinician within 22 minutes of treatment and held five, five-minute conversations with additional adults during a second session) regardless of modality of delivery (using mobile applications, other activities, or reinforcement alone). Children shaped to speak with the inclusion of mobile applications reported less anxiety and exhibited decreased physiological anxious distress during treatment. The utility of mobile applications during the treatment of SM is discussed in addition to areas for future research (e.g., mobile-based treatment dissemination initiatives).

Darbe atlikta teorinė selektyvųjį mutizmo sindromą turinčių asmenų ugdymo ypatumų analizė. Siekiant išryškinti ugdymosi ir švietimo pagalbos ypatumus selektyvųjį mutizmą turinčiam asmeniui Lietuvos švietimo kontekste pasirinktas atvejo analizės metodas. Atvejo analizei atlikti pasitelkti kokybiniai empiriniai metodai (pusiau struktūruotas interviu, pusiau struktūruota anketinė apklausa, pusiau struktūruotas stebėjimas, dokumentų analizė). Tyrimo duomenys apdoroti atliekant turinio (content) analizę ir diskurso analizę. Asmens socialinės, komunikacinės ir ugdymosi situacijos kitimams identifikuoti taikytas tęstinis tyrimas. / The paper deals with the theoretical analysis of the children with selective mutism education peculiarities. In order to emphasize peculiarities of education and educational assistance for person with selective mutism was chosen case study method. Qualitative empirical methods were used in case study: a semi-structured interview, semi-structured observation, semi-structured questionnaire and document analysis. The study data was processed by thee content analysis and discourse analysis. In order to identify the person’s social, communicational and educational situation changes the longitudinal study was applied.

This research is an archival case study examining Helen B. Landgarten’s art therapy practice as observed in a videotaped, early stage, art therapy session with a child with elective mutism. This art therapy session is transcribed, analyzed, and given context by research questions drawn from Landgarten’s 32 journal articles published between 1973 and 2001. These journal articles are chronologically presented in the literature review in a manner resembling an annotative bibliography, familiarizing the reader with Landgarten’s writings and art therapy practice as she progressed through stages in her professional life.

To determine whether children with selective mutism (SM) withhold speech to regulate their emotional arousal and decrease automatic distress, the current study examines the behavioral and physiological responses of children with SM in comparison to children with social phobia (SP) and children with no psychiatric disorder (TD) as they participate in two social situations. A single case design strategy is used to compare behavioral and physiological responses both within and across groups. Examining the temporal sequencing of behaviors and physiology provides a direct test of the utility of emotion regulation theory as it pertains to children with social phobia/selective mutism. The results indicate that children with SM show elevated arousal and emotional reactivity across all interaction segments relative to other children. Unique affective, behavioral and physiological responses occur between and within groups in relation to situational demands. The temporal sequencing of behavioral and physiological responses suggests that behavioral deficits may be related to underutilized and/or deficient physiological response systems and that not speaking represents a primitive avoidance strategy by children with SM to regulate extreme physiological arousal.