{"h1":"Selective Mutism: AbilityScore 900–1000 — Your Next Steps","faq":[{"a":"Not on its own. A high band shows your child's underlying abilities — language, comprehension, cognition — are strong, which is excellent. Selective Mutism is about anxiety around speaking in certain settings, so the focus now is helping your child use those strong abilities more freely across places and people. Only your Pinnacle clinician interprets what the score means for your child.","q":"Does a 900–1000 AbilityScore mean my child no longer has Selective Mutism?"},{"a":"Usually not yet. A strong band is the moment to consolidate progress and generalise speaking to new settings, then taper under clinical guidance rather than stopping abruptly. Your clinician will set planned review points to confirm gains are holding and spreading.","q":"Should we stop therapy if the score is this high?"},{"a":"Progress in Selective Mutism comes in spurts and plateaus, not a straight line, and pressure tends to slow it down. A graded, pressure-free fade-in plan — widening one person or place at a time — is what tends to work, and re-measurement shows whether speaking is genuinely spreading.","q":"How quickly will my child start speaking everywhere?"}],"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","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 900 1000","value":"as_900_1000"},{"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":"my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-800-900-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 800–900 — Next Steps"},{"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":"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"}],"summary":"An AbilityScore in the 900–1000 band is strong, near-age-expected news: your child's foundations are sound and the focus now is widening where and with whom they speak. This is a phase of momentum — consolidate gains, generalise speech across settings, and re-measure against your child's own baseline. Only a Pinnacle clinician confirms what the number means.","answer_md":"*An AbilityScore in the 900–1000 band is genuinely encouraging news — let's talk about what it means and where you go from here.*\n\n## In short\nA clinician-measured AbilityScore in the **900–1000 band** signals that your child's measured abilities are tracking at the strong, near-age-expected end of their profile. For [Selective Mutism](/), this usually means the building blocks — language ability, comprehension, cognition — are sound, and the challenge sits in *speaking confidently across settings* rather than in the capacity to speak. The next step is not to slow down: it is to consolidate gains, gently widen where and with whom your child speaks, and re-measure against your child's own baseline.\n\n## What this band means in practice\nSelective Mutism is an anxiety-based difficulty: a child who speaks freely at home may fall silent at school or with unfamiliar people. A high AbilityScore band tells you the foundations are strong — so therapy now focuses on:\n\n- **Generalising speech** — moving comfortable talking from home outward, person by person, place by place, using gradual, pressure-free steps.\n- **Building communicative confidence** — celebrating any attempt (a whisper, a word, a nod that becomes a sound) without forcing speech.\n- **Coordinating school and home** — so the same calm, low-pressure approach follows your child everywhere.\n\nThis is a phase of momentum, not maintenance. Children in this band often respond beautifully to a structured fade-in plan led by a speech-language and behavioural team.\n\n## When to review\nProgress in Selective Mutism is rarely a straight line — expect spurts and plateaus. Re-measurement at planned intervals shows whether speaking is genuinely spreading to new settings, or whether a tweak to the plan is needed. Flag sooner if your child becomes more withdrawn, stops speaking in a setting where they previously did, or shows rising distress around social situations.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online form or a number alone. Your child's [AbilityScore baseline](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) is measured against their *own* earlier profile, so even quiet, hard-won progress becomes visible. From a 900–1000 band, your clinician will typically design a graded [speech therapy](/speech-therapy) and confidence-building plan and schedule a structured review. Across 70+ centres, 700+ therapists and 4.95 lakh+ families served, the aim is always the same: your child speaking freely, and thriving.\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 (6B06, Selective Mutism); American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) guidance on selective mutism; American Academy of Pediatrics parent guidance via HealthyChildren; Pinnacle Blooms Network clinical studies.\n\n**Next step —** Bring this score to your clinician and turn it into a plan. [Book a review with your Pinnacle team](/enroll) to map the next stage of your child's speaking confidence.\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-900-1000-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-900-1000-what-should-we-do-next","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/my-child-with-selective-mutism-has-an-abilityscore-of-900-1000-what-should-we-do-next-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 900–1000: Next Steps","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Lower the pressure to speak, not the chances. Play games that allow whispers, gestures or single words, and warmly celebrate any attempt. Invite one familiar friend into a comfortable setting and let speech spread gently, person by person.","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-800-900-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 800–900 — Next Steps","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-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-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"},{"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-200-300-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Selective Mutism AbilityScore 200–300: Next Steps for Parents","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":"Flag sooner if your child becomes more withdrawn, stops speaking in a setting where they previously did, or shows rising distress around social or school situations.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/","code":"6B06","label":"WHO ICD-11: Selective Mutism"},{"url":"https://www.asha.org/","label":"ASHA: Selective Mutism guidance"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/","label":"AAP HealthyChildren: speaking and anxiety in children"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T10:36:00.237648+00:00","meta_description":"A 900–1000 AbilityScore band in Selective Mutism is strong news. Learn what it means and how to widen your child's speaking confidence — with Pinnacle.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}