Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Konuralp Ulusal Tıp ve Sağlık Bilimlerinde Multidisipliner Çalışmalar Kongresi, 22 - 24 Aralık 2023, ss.12-14, (Özet Bildiri)
Play Therapy Application in Children with Selective Mutism
Tugce Gul Caglar1 , Serdar Sipahi2
1 Lokman Hekim University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Audiology, Ankara, Turkey
2 Baskent Language Speech Center, Ankara, Turkey
Aim: Selective mutism is a definition that occurs in early childhood and is used for children who know how to speak but do not want to communicate verbally. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of group therapy for children with selective mutism. Material and Methods: Play therapy was applied in groups to 10 children (4 girls, 6 boys) diagnosed with selective mutism. A theme was created each week and an effort was made to interact with the children in pairs. A 10- week program was created with the children participating in the programme. Parents of children coming to these play groups were informed about anxiety, communication disorders and behavioral disorders in the school environment. It is thought that this information will be useful, considering that the parents of children with selective mutism have as high anxiety as their children.
Results: It was observed that the participants generally harmonized with their playmates and communicated verbally. Social communication between children and their families, whose speaking self-confidence increased, was strengthened.
Conclusion: It is thought that programmed group therapy is appropriate for children with selective mutism, and their parents should definitely be informed about mutism.
Keywords: Selective Mutism, Play Therapy, Anxiety Disorder