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.

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