{"h1":"Selective Mutism with an AbilityScore of 400–500: what to do next","faq":[{"a":"No. The band is a baseline snapshot of where your child is right now — it tells your clinician where to begin and how often to re-measure, not how the story ends. Selective Mutism is anxiety-based and very responsive to graded, low-pressure support.","q":"Does a 400–500 AbilityScore mean my child's Selective Mutism is severe?"},{"a":"Many children with Selective Mutism go on to speak comfortably across settings with the right graded plan, time and school partnership. Progress is built in tiny brave steps and measured against your child's own baseline, so even quiet gains count.","q":"Will my child ever speak normally at school?"},{"a":"Gentle pressure usually backfires, because Selective Mutism is driven by anxiety, not stubbornness. The plan instead lowers the demand to speak first, then rebuilds confidence step by step. Your clinician guides exactly how and when to invite speech.","q":"Should we push our child to talk more?"},{"a":"Your clinician sets review points based on your child's plan and progress. Re-measuring against your child's own baseline makes quiet gains visible and keeps the plan honest and on track.","q":"How often will the AbilityScore be re-measured?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism with an AbilityScore of 400–500: what to do next","entity":{"key":"selective-mutism","kind":"condition","name":"Selective Mutism","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Emotional","value":"emotional"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Support","value":"support"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Measure","value":"measure"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"score_band","label":"As 400 500","value":"as_400_500"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism: AbilityScore 100–200 — What To Do Next"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism: AbilityScore 300–400 Next Steps"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 500–600: Next Steps"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 600–700: Next Steps"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 200–300: Next Steps for Parents"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore — what to do next"}],"summary":"An AbilityScore of 400–500 is a baseline, not a verdict. For Selective Mutism it guides a clinician-led plan that lowers speaking pressure and rebuilds confidence in graded steps across settings. Your clinician turns the band into a personalised plan with clear re-measurement points.","answer_md":"*An AbilityScore in the 400–500 band is not a verdict — it's a starting line, and a clear one. Here's exactly what comes next.*\n\n## In short\nA score in the 400–500 band tells your clinician where your child is *right now* with their communication and comfort in different settings — it is a baseline, not a ceiling. With [Selective Mutism](/), the next step is a structured plan that lowers the pressure to speak and gently rebuilds confidence, setting after setting. The band guides *how* we begin and how often we re-measure — your clinician translates it into a plan made for your child.\n\n## What this band usually means in practice\nSelective Mutism is an anxiety-based difficulty: your child *can* speak (often freely at home) but freezes in specific settings like school or with unfamiliar adults. A 400–500 baseline typically points your clinician toward:\n\n- **Reducing speaking pressure first** — comfort and predictability come before words. Direct questions are replaced with low-demand, playful invitations.\n- **Brave-step ladders** — moving in tiny, winnable stages from being present, to gesturing, to whispering, to speaking, with each step celebrated.\n- **Carrying confidence across settings** — practising first where speech already flows, then bridging that to school and new people.\n- **Partnering with school** — because the setting where speech is hardest is usually where the plan does its most important work.\n\nProgress here is measured against your child's *own* baseline — so even quiet gains, a whisper to one trusted teacher, become visible and meaningful.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under the care of a qualified clinician — never from an online figure alone. Your clinician reviews this 400–500 band, watches your child in play, partners with you and the school, and builds a graded plan with clear re-measurement points. Explore how [speech and confidence therapy](/speech-therapy) supports children with Selective Mutism, understand [how the AbilityScore is calculated](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), or start [here](/) to find your nearest centre.\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 classifies Selective Mutism (6B06) among anxiety and fear-related disorders; the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and AAP's HealthyChildren guidance both frame it as anxiety-based, treatable, and best supported by lowering speaking pressure and graded exposure across settings.\n\n**Next step —** Turn this number into a plan. [Book an assessment](/enroll) with a Pinnacle clinician to set your child's personalised brave-steps and review dates.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-what-should-we-do-next","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-what-should-we-do-next","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 400–500: Next Steps","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Take the pressure off words at home: play side-by-side, comment rather than question (\"You found the red one!\") and never push or coax speech in front of others. Celebrate any brave step — a gesture, a whisper, a nod — exactly as much as a spoken word.","published_at":"2026-06-10T10:36:00.237648+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-selective-mutism-affect-a-child-s-daily-life","title":"How Selective Mutism Affects a Child's Daily Life","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-selective-mutism-considered-a-disability","title":"Is Selective Mutism considered a disability?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-selective-mutism-genetic-or-hereditary","title":"Is Selective Mutism Genetic or Hereditary?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-common-myths-about-selective-mutism","title":"What are common myths about Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-selective-mutism","title":"What are the types or levels of Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-selective-mutism-in-children","title":"What Causes Selective Mutism in Children?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-selective-mutism","title":"What is Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-selective-mutism-and-what-does-it-look-like-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Selective Mutism in Early Childhood?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-selective-mutism","title":"What other conditions often occur alongside Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-current-research-show-about-early-intervention-outcomes-for-selective-mutism-in-children-under-7","title":"Early Intervention Outcomes for Selective Mutism Under 7","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-selective-mutism-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Selective Mutism, and what are its ICD-11 features in early childhood?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-selective-mutism","title":"What is the ICD-11 classification for Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand the subject","total":14},{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"can-selective-mutism-be-cured","title":"Can Selective Mutism Be Cured?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-selective-mutism-be-prevented","title":"Can Selective Mutism Be Prevented?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"do-boys-show-selective-mutism-differently","title":"Do Boys Show Selective Mutism Differently?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"do-girls-show-selective-mutism-differently","title":"Selective Mutism in Girls","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"should-i-be-worried-my-child-might-have-selective-mutism","title":"Should I be worried my child might have Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-selective-mutism","title":"Early Signs of Selective Mutism","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-selective-mutism-in-a-1-year-old-boy","title":"Early Signs of Selective Mutism in a 1-Year-Old Boy","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-selective-mutism-in-a-1-year-old-girl","title":"Early signs of selective mutism in a 1-year-old girl","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-selective-mutism-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Selective Mutism in a 12-to-18-Month-Old","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-selective-mutism-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","title":"Early signs of Selective Mutism in an 18–24-month-old","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-selective-mutism-in-a-2-year-old","title":"Early Signs of Selective Mutism in a 2-Year-Old","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-selective-mutism-in-a-2-year-old-boy","title":"Early Signs of Selective Mutism in a 2-Year-Old Boy","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":47},{"key":"causes","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"are-boys-more-likely-to-have-selective-mutism","title":"Are boys more likely to have selective mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"are-girls-more-likely-to-have-selective-mutism","title":"Are girls more likely to have Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-selective-mutism-in-young-children","title":"What Causes Selective Mutism in Young Children?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-early-intervention-for-selective-mutism-advance-un-child-rights-uncrpd-and-the-sdgs","title":"Early Intervention for Selective Mutism: Advancing UNCRPD and the SDGs","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-selective-mutism-in-early-childhood","title":"Contributing Factors for Selective Mutism","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-cost-effectiveness-of-early-therapy-for-selective-mutism-in-young-children","title":"Cost-effectiveness of early therapy for Selective Mutism","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-prevalence-and-public-health-burden-of-selective-mutism-among-young-children-in-india","title":"What is the prevalence and public-health burden of Selective Mutism among young children in India?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore causes & influences","total":7},{"key":"assess","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-abilityscore-track-progress-in-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"How AbilityScore Tracks Progress in Selective Mutism","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-selective-mutism-assessed-in-a-young-child","title":"How Selective Mutism Is Assessed in a Young Child","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-selective-mutism-assessed-in-children-under-7","title":"How Is Selective Mutism Assessed in Children Under 7?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"What an AbilityScore of 0–100 Means for a Child with Selective Mutism","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"AbilityScore® 100–200 in Selective Mutism","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"What does an AbilityScore of 200–300 mean for a child with Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"What an AbilityScore of 300–400 Means in Selective Mutism","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"What an AbilityScore® of 400–500 means in Selective Mutism","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"What an AbilityScore of 500–600 means for Selective Mutism","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"What does an AbilityScore of 600-700 mean for a child with Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-700-800-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"What does an AbilityScore of 700–800 mean for a child with Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-800-900-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"What does an AbilityScore of 800–900 mean for a child with Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand assessment","total":16},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 500–600: Next Steps","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism: AbilityScore 300–400 Next Steps","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 600–700: Next Steps","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 200–300: Next Steps for Parents","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore — what to do next","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism: AbilityScore 100–200 — What To Do Next","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-a-child-with-selective-mutism-attend-a-mainstream-school","title":"Can a child with Selective Mutism attend a mainstream school?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-a-child-with-selective-mutism-attend-a-regular-school","title":"Can a Child with Selective Mutism Attend a Regular School?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-a-child-with-selective-mutism-grow-up-to-live-independently","title":"Can a Child with Selective Mutism Grow Up to Live Independently?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-we-support-emotional-development-in-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"How can we support emotional development in a child with Selective Mutism?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-selective-mutism-diagnosed-in-a-child","title":"How Is Selective Mutism Diagnosed in a Child?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-selective-mutism-supported-through-therapy","title":"How Therapy Supports a Child with Selective Mutism","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":62},{"key":"home","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-my-child-with-selective-mutism-at-home","title":"How can I support my child with Selective Mutism at home?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"At home & in everyday life","total":1}],"what_to_watch":"Notice the settings where speech flows freely versus where it freezes, and whether avoidance is spreading to new places or people. Flag sudden silence in a child who previously spoke, or rising distress around school, so your clinician can adjust the plan promptly.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/","code":"6B06","label":"WHO ICD-11: Selective Mutism (6B06)"},{"url":"https://www.asha.org/","label":"ASHA: Selective Mutism overview"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/","label":"AAP HealthyChildren: childhood anxiety and speaking"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T10:36:00.237648+00:00","meta_description":"Your child with Selective Mutism scored 400–500? It's a baseline, not a verdict. See what a clinician-led, confidence-building plan looks like next.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}