Selective mutism in children

What selective mutism is

Selective mutism is an anxiety condition in which a child who can speak comfortably in some settings — usually home — is consistently unable to speak in others, most often school or with unfamiliar people.^[] It typically emerges between ages three and five, often becoming obvious when a child starts school.^[] It is not shyness, defiance, or a deliberate choice: the child wants to speak but anxiety blocks it.

Because a child with selective mutism often functions well at home, it can be missed or misread as "just shy" — which delays the support that works best when it starts early.

What it looks like

• Speaks freely at home but goes silent at school or in public
• May communicate non-verbally — nodding, pointing, writing — when unable to speak
• A "frozen" or blank look in situations where speaking is expected
• Avoids activities that require talking; may have other anxiety signs
• The pattern is consistent and lasts more than a month (beyond the first weeks of school)

How psychology helps

Selective mutism responds well to behavioural and cognitive behavioural approaches, which gently and systematically build a child's ability to communicate in the settings where they're stuck.^[][] Rather than pressuring a child to talk, therapy uses graded steps — moving from non-verbal communication toward speech at a pace the child can manage, with success built in at each stage.

Key ingredients:

• Reducing pressure while keeping expectation — the evidence-based middle path
• Graded exposure — small, supported steps toward speaking, generalised across settings
• Parent coaching — parents are central to practising between sessions
• School coordination — because school is usually where the difficulty lives, a plan that includes teachers works best

NDIS funding

Selective mutism on its own usually isn't an NDIS access condition — the scheme assesses the functional impact of a permanent disability. Where it co-occurs with an eligible condition such as autism, psychology support is commonly funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living. For families without NDIS funding, sessions are private-pay at the NDIS rate.

What a Hey Sprout session looks like

Sessions run online via secure video — which can itself feel safer for an anxious child than a clinic. Parents are closely involved and coached to support graded practice at home and school. We hold your preferred slot before asking for any NDIS or plan-manager details.