{"h1":"Selective Mutism: AbilityScore 800–900 — what next?","faq":[{"a":"It is an encouraging, strong band that usually reflects solid underlying ability. It is not a diagnosis, though — your clinician interprets it in context to shape the right plan.","q":"Is an AbilityScore of 800–900 a good result for Selective Mutism?"},{"a":"Not necessarily. With Selective Mutism the work is often about generalising speech to more settings and people. A higher band means strong foundations to build on, and your clinician will advise on the right level of support.","q":"Does a high band mean my child no longer needs therapy?"},{"a":"Avoid pressuring or prompting speech directly, as this can increase anxiety. Graded, child-led steps guided by a clinician work far better. Celebrate any small attempt warmly.","q":"Should I encourage my child to speak more in public?"},{"a":"Only a qualified clinician at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, using a structured clinician-administered assessment. An online score alone is never a diagnosis.","q":"Who decides the diagnosis and plan?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-800-900-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 800–900 — Next Steps","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 800 900","value":"as_800_900"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Mainstream Inclusion","value":"mainstream_inclusion"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"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?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-900-1000-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"What an AbilityScore® of 900–1000 Means for Selective Mutism"},{"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-700-800-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism, AbilityScore 700–800: what to do next"},{"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"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-900-1000-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 900–1000 — What to Do Next"}],"summary":"An AbilityScore of 800–900 for a child with Selective Mutism is an encouraging, strong band — solid foundations are likely already there. The next step is a clinician review to interpret the score and set a graded, pressure-free plan that widens where and with whom your child feels safe to speak. The score is a milestone, not a diagnosis.","answer_md":"*An AbilityScore in the 800–900 band is genuinely encouraging — it tells you a great deal of capacity is already there, and that the next steps are about confidence, not crisis.*\n\n## In short\nA score in the **800–900 band** is a strong, hopeful position. For a child with [Selective Mutism](/), it usually means your child has solid underlying language and ability, and that the work ahead is gently widening *where* and *with whom* they feel safe to speak — at school, with relatives, in shops. The next step is a clinician review of this score to set a precise, personalised plan; the band itself is a milestone, not a diagnosis.\n\n## What the 800–900 band tends to mean\nSelective Mutism (ICD-11 6B06) is an anxiety-based difficulty — a child who speaks freely at home may fall silent in settings that feel unsafe. A higher AbilityScore band typically reflects strong foundations, so therapy focuses on:\n\n- **Generalising speech** — moving comfortable talking outward, one small, low-pressure setting at a time\n- **Reducing pressure** — never demanding speech, but building brave, graded steps the child controls\n- **School partnership** — agreeing quiet, supportive strategies with teachers so confidence carries across the day\n- **Celebrating approximations** — a whisper, a nod, one word to a new person are all real wins\n\nProgress is reviewed against your child's *own* earlier baseline, so even quiet gains become visible.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA clinical [AbilityScore](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online figure alone. Bring this 800–900 band to your clinician, who will interpret it in context and shape a graded [speech therapy](/speech-therapy) plan that suits your child's temperament. With 25 million+ therapy sessions and 4.95 lakh+ families served across 70+ centres, the aim is steady, pressure-free progress toward your child speaking with ease in more of their world.\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 (6B06, selective mutism); American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) guidance on selective mutism; American Academy of Pediatrics child-development resources; Pinnacle Blooms Network clinical studies.\n\n**Next step —** Book a clinician review of your child's AbilityScore to turn this strong band into a clear, personalised plan. [Book an assessment](/enroll) with a Pinnacle speech-language pathologist.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-800-900-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-800-900-what-should-we-do-next","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-800-900-what-should-we-do-next-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Selective Mutism: AbilityScore 800–900 Next Steps","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Never ask your child to 'just say it'. Instead, lower the pressure: play side-by-side, narrate aloud, and leave warm pauses so speech can come if it wants to. Celebrate any attempt — a sound, a whisper, a gesture — without making a fuss that adds pressure.","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":"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":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-900-1000-mean-for-a-child-with-selective-mutism","title":"What an AbilityScore® of 900–1000 Means for Selective Mutism","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"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"}],"label":"Understand assessment","total":16},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-900-1000-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 900–1000 — What to Do Next","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-700-800-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism, AbilityScore 700–800: what to do next","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"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-400-500-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism with an AbilityScore of 400–500: 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"},{"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":"Same topic"},{"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":"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":"Watch for small brave wins — a whisper to a new person, a nod, one word in a new room — and note settings where silence persists. Flag to your clinician if anxiety rises sharply, if your child stops speaking in places they once spoke, or if there are new worries about hearing or understanding.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/browse11/l-m/en","code":"6B06","label":"WHO ICD-11: Selective mutism"},{"url":"https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/selective-mutism/","label":"ASHA: Selective Mutism clinical guidance"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/","label":"AAP HealthyChildren: child development"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T10:36:00.237648+00:00","meta_description":"Your child's Selective Mutism AbilityScore is 800–900 — a strong, hopeful band. Here's what it means and the gentle next steps to take with your clinician.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}