Friday 21st August 2026
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2026 5:07 am
Morning all.
There was a long discussion at the Times on Jason Arday's claim of his not talking till the age of 12 ...
Luckily one commenter out of hundreds pointed out from personal experience that both 'sides' could be true -- IE the child was mute at school, and could talk fine outside ! Her example was a boy who even had a card ready to show the teacher if he wanted to go to the loo .
I checked this morning --
Loooong discussion here --When an autistic child refuses to talk in school, it is rarely a choice or act of defiance. It usually stems from intense anxiety, sensory overload, a shutdown, or selective mutism where the nervous system blocks speech under stress.
Common Causes for SilenceAutistic Shutdown:
The brain becomes overwhelmed by noise, lights, or social demands, causing a temporary loss of verbal abilities.Selective Mutism: An anxiety response where a child speaks easily at home but cannot physically talk in high-pressure public spaces like classrooms.Motor Planning Issues:
Difficulty coordinating the mouth, tongue, and breath to produce speech when under emotional pressure.Ways to Help at School