#expressive language

"Most, if not all, of the distinctive behavioral characteristics that children with Selective Mutism portray can be explained by the studied hypothesis that children with inhibited temperaments have a decreased threshold of excitability in the almond-shaped area of the brain called the amygdala. When confronted with a fearful scenario, the amygdala receives signals of potential danger (from the sympathetic nervous system) and begins to set off a series of reactions that will help individuals protect themselves."

"Some children with Selective Mutism have Sensory Processing Disorder (DSI) which means they have trouble processing specific sensory information. They may be sensitive to sounds, lights, touch, taste and smells. Some children may have difficulty modulating sensory input which may affect their emotional responses. DSI may cause a child to misinterpret environmental and social cues. This can lead to inflexibility, frustration and anxiety. The anxiety experienced may cause a child to shut down, avoid and withdraw from a situation, or it may cause him/her to act out, have tantrums and manifest negative behaviours"

"Some children (20-30%) with Selective Mutism have subtle speech and/or language abnormalities such as receptive and/or expressive language abnormalities and language delays. Others may have subtle learning disabilities, including auditory processing disorder. In most of these causes, the children have inhibited temperaments (prone to shyness and anxiety). The added stress of the speech/language disorder, learning disability, or processing disorder may cause the child to feel that much more anxious and insecure or uncomfortable in situations where there is an expectation to speak."

"more studies are necessary to fully assess speech/language abnormalities and Selective Mutism as well as processing disorders and Selective Mutism. It is important to not that there are many children with Selective Mutism who are early speakers without any speech delays/disorders or processing disorders."

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How can you tell if my child has problems with expressive language (using words and language)?

If a child has difficulties with expressive language they might:

Have difficulty naming items and objects.

Not link together words or uses sentences that are shorter than others of the same age.

Use sentences that sound immature for their age.

Use ‘jargon’ (made up words) in speech.

Produce sentences that are ‘muddled’ (i.e. words in wrong order, lots of stops and starts, a lack of flow).

Not be understood by unfamiliar people.

Have difficulty finding the right words to use in conversation or when describing or explaining something.

Have trouble retelling a story.

Have difficulty writing paragraphs and stories.

*These difficulties will vary from child to child dependent on their age.

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receptive language: how we understand spoken words, the language around us, and the ability to hear / understand / comprehend spoken language. need for learning, play communication with others, understanding directions, safety, and participation in everyday activities.

expressive language: the use of language to communicate with others. expressive language is “expressed” through speech, sign, written words, picture symbols, gestures, body language, or alternative forms of language to communicate wants, needs, thoughts, and ideas.