SpeechPathology.com Phone: 800-242-5183


Presence - Apply Now - September 2022

Medications for Selective Mutism

Aimee Kotrba, Ph.D.

December 16, 2013

Share:

Question

Is there a medication that can help selective mutism?

Answer

There are medications that have been found to be beneficial.  They are not “magic speaking pills.”  What we have found is that SSRI’s, specifically Prozac, can be helpful in intervening with children with selective mutism.  The way that I think about it is like providing water wings for children who are learning to swim.  It keeps them afloat while they are learning the skills.  Medication is not magic and it does not usually just make children start talking.  It does provide them with a reduced enough anxiety level that they can take part in behavioral interventions and learn a new skill set. 

Dr. Aimee Kotrba is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the expert assessment and treatment of Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety.  She serves as the President of the Selective Mutism Group (SMG) Board of Directors and is a nationally recognized speaker offering local and national workshops on the identification and treatment of Selective Mutism for parents, professionals, and school personnel.


aimee kotrba

Aimee Kotrba, Ph.D.

Dr. Aimee Kotrba is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the expert assessment and treatment of Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety.  She serves as the President of the Selective Mutism Group (SMG) Board of Directors and is a nationally recognized speaker offering local and national workshops on the identification and treatment of Selective Mutism for parents, professionals, and school personnel.  Dr. Kotrba is the owner of Thriving Minds Behavioral Health in Brighton Michigan, offering expert treatment of Selective Mutism.


Related Courses

Connecting with the Preverbal Child to Increase Social Communication
Presented by Lisa R. Audet, PhD, CCC-SLP
Video

Presenter

Lisa R. Audet, PhD, CCC-SLP
Course: #10247Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'I appreciate the charts and the detailed notes'   Read Reviews
Children with autism who have minimal verbal skills present particular communication challenges. This course discusses assessment and intervention strategies to evaluate and increase intentionality of communication, as well as support social interaction and language development in this group of children.

Understanding and Treating Echolalia: When You Means I
Presented by Lisa R. Audet, PhD, CCC-SLP
Video

Presenter

Lisa R. Audet, PhD, CCC-SLP
Course: #10261Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Wonderful course with great information!'   Read Reviews
Echolalic speech can reflect a Gestalt learning style that often accompanies hyperlexia and reading comprehension difficulties. This course provides an explanation of echolalia based on this framework, and describes related characteristics common in children with autism. Intervention strategies related to language, literacy, and socialization are also discussed.

A Practical Treatment Approach for Students with Social Communication Disorders in Schools, Part 1
Presented by Mary Asper, MS, CCC-SLP
Video

Presenter

Mary Asper, MS, CCC-SLP
Course: #9499Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'Great real-life examples and outcomes'   Read Reviews
This is Part 1 of a two-part series. This course helped SLPs build a repertoire of social communication intervention strategies and improve functional outcomes with evidence-based treatment plans for students Pre-K to 6th grade. Individual case studies will demonstrate how social communication disorders present in a variety of diagnostic categories. Practical tools for treatment from the therapy room to the classroom - including collaboration with other professionals - will be discussed.

Autism and Neurodiversity
Presented by Diane E. Treadwell-Deering, MD
Video

Presenter

Diane E. Treadwell-Deering, MD
Course: #1033757Level: Advanced1 Hour
  'course content'   Read Reviews
This course will review the concept of neurodiversity as it pertains to autism spectrum disorder, clarifying aspects of terminology, framework, and beliefs and comparing this model with the medical model.

A Practical Treatment Approach for Students with Social Communication Disorders in Schools, Part 2
Presented by Mary Asper, MS, CCC-SLP
Video

Presenter

Mary Asper, MS, CCC-SLP
Course: #9515Level: Intermediate1 Hour
  'The real-life situations that were outlined from struggles to resolutions were really helpful'   Read Reviews
This Part 2 of a 2-part series focused on functional social communication intervention for grades 7 thru 12 into adulthood. Treatment plans and case studies are presented to highlight techniques for engaging teens & adults in therapy, tips for extending social communication strategies into the classroom, and methods for helping adults overcome social anxiety.

Our site uses cookies to improve your experience. By using our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy.