I am a Therapeutic Riding Instructor. We have several children diagnosed with Selective Mutism that ride at our barn. We have noticed that each of these children have low muscle tone. Is this typical in children with selective mutism, or just a coincidence?

Answer

From all of the research I have done, I have never heard of ‘decreased muscle tone’ being associated with SM. It is probably just a coincidence. BUT, it could be that many of these children were unable to participate in outside sports etc., due to their profound social phobia, and therefore are physically behind other same age children.

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum