When Astrid Torp Schjeldrup (7) and classmate Laura Melhus Rognstad (7) play, together they laugh freely. But only Laura speaks. Astrid is a lively and social girl, but has not spoken to her friend or anyone else at school since she started there in autumn 2022. She has selective mutism, a rare condition that makes her completely silent in some social situations. Astrid Torp Schjelderup draws and laughs with her friend Laura Melhus Rognstad at Singsaker school. They have a good time together, even if Astrid doesn’t speak. Photo: Elina Rydland Ørnhaug / news – What happens inside you when it becomes difficult to speak? Astrid leans over to mum Ragnhild Torp and whispers in her ear. She acts as Astrid’s voice during the interview with news. – I want to see my mother, she says. “The voice is locked in prison” When Astrid was three years old and had just changed departments in the nursery school, she stopped talking to both children and adults. Since then, it has been very difficult for her to exchange words with anyone other than her parents and siblings. To the Association for Selective Mutism, she describes it like this: Astrid says that the worst thing about feeling like this is that her friends probably want her to talk, but that she just can’t get it done yet. Friends Laura Melhus Rognstad and Astrid Astrid Torp Schjeldrup play well together, even though Astrid does not speak. Photo: Elina Rydland Ørnhaug / news Must be treated Kristin Romvig Øvergaard is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Oslo University Hospital. Among other things, she has researched children with selective mutism. – What studies show helps children with selective mutism is cognitive behavioral therapy with gradual exposure to speaking. It is important to approach the child carefully, without demanding an answer. Photo: Privat Just under one percent of the child population has selective mutism. Previously, the condition could be seen as defiance and that the child chose not to speak, but now it is defined as an anxiety disorder. – If you don’t do anything about it, it can last for years. It can become a very big problem as greater demands are placed on the school and there is less understanding that children and young people do not speak, says Øvergaard. – All good treatment starts with trying to understand the child in front of you, and the family. Doing a good survey and finding an individual adaptation of the treatment we know will help – that’s the way. Ten pieces of advice when dealing with silent children Have a relaxed relationship with the child. Nonverbal communication is somewhere in the right direction. Remember that this child is very sensitive to body language. Position yourself in relation to the child. Rather, sit next to it instead of directly across from it. Have a common focus on what the child is concerned with instead of focusing directly on the child. Do not ask direct questions, but wonder aloud in such a way that it gives the child room to respond. The child must also be given time to respond. Continue the dialogue even if the child does not respond verbally. This means that the conversation itself does not exert pressure on the child. When the child begins to speak, try to receive the verbal response in a natural and neutral way. See the child as he is beyond being selectively mutistic. It is important to have realistic expectations The child and youth psychiatrist says you must have realistic expectations of how quickly the child will be able to speak when they are being treated. – You have to calculate at least a few months, and perhaps several years. For some, it may become the case that they do not speak freely in all situations. The fact that they say something where they were completely silent before can still be important to them. The child may be afraid that it will cause a big fuss if they finally manage to say something, because they have not spoken before. – When the child says a few words, it is important not to cheer loudly and say “now you have spoken!”, and make a lot of noise about it. Then it will be as the child could fear it would be, says Øvergaard. – You have to try to keep your composure and composure, even if you are of course very happy. Ragnhild Torp says it is important to use humour, nonsense and nonsense when dealing with silent children. If adults joke and show that it is not dangerous to make mistakes, it can lower the expectations children have of themselves. Photo: Elina Rydland Ørnhaug / news – Don’t force someone to talk Transitional phases can be triggering factors for a child developing selective mutism. It could be, for example, changing departments in the nursery, as was the case for Astrid. – I hadn’t really heard of it before, says mum Ragnhild Torp. When Astrid went for her four-year check-up, she called the health nurse and said that she didn’t think her daughter would talk to her. – Then it was the public health nurse who contacted the psychologist. Ragnhild Torp says it is important that children with selective mutism are taken seriously, and that enough resources are set aside in school so that they can get the help they need. Photo: Elina Rydland Ørnhaug / news At school, much can be solved with body language and written communication. At the same time, the parents have a handover with the teacher every day. Then they can pass on whether there is anything Astrid would like to tell, for example whether she has done something exciting at the weekend. – So that when there is assembly time, the other students can hear what she has experienced or if something special has happened. Astrid is working to one day dare to talk to others, but until she does, she has an important message: – It is very important that no one forces those with selective mutism to speak, because then it just takes longer before they dare to speak, says Astrid via her mother. Having selective mutism does not necessarily mean that one is shy. Astrid is social and active, and plays both viola and football in her spare time. Photo: Elina Rydland Ørnhaug / news Leonora is eight years old and has selective mutism. When she was three, she suddenly stopped talking to anyone but her family and a few friends.
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Astrid Torp Schjelderup has selective mutism – unable to talk to anyone at school – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
