Abstract |
The aim was to examine the outcome of a multimodal treatment for selective mutism (SM). Seven children, aged three-five years, who were referred for SM were included. The treatment started at home and was continued at kindergarten for a maximum of six months, with predefined treatment goals in terms of speaking levels, from I ("Speaks to the therapist in a separate room with a parent present") through to VI ("Speaks in all kindergarten settings without the therapist present"). The outcome measures were the teacher-reported School Speech Questionnaire (SSQ) and the treatment goal obtained (I-VI) six months after the onset of treatment, and the SSQ and Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI) at one-year follow-up. Six children spoke in all kindergarten settings (VI) after a mean of 14 weeks treatment. One child, with more extensive neuro-developmental delay, spoke in some settings only (V). The mean SSQ score was 0.59 (SD = 0.51) at baseline compared with 2.68 (SD = 0.35) at the six-month evaluation and 2.26 (SD = 0.93) at one-year follow-up. The mean CGI score at baseline was 4.43 (SD = 0.79) compared with 1.14 (SD = 0.38) at follow-up. Home- and kindergarten-based treatment appears to be promising.
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Authors | Beate Oerbeck, Jorunn Johansen, Kathe Lundahl, Hanne Kristensen |
Journal | Clinical child psychology and psychiatry
(Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry)
Vol. 17
Issue 3
Pg. 370-83
(Jul 2012)
ISSN: 1461-7021 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 21852320
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Topics |
- Behavior Therapy
(methods)
- Child, Preschool
- Female
- Home Care Services
- Humans
- Male
- Mutism
(therapy)
- Pilot Projects
- Schools
- Social Environment
- Treatment Outcome
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