“Often it feels really frustrating because I want to speak verbally, but I physically can’t” – Inscape House students interviewed on BBC Radio Manchester

Students from Inscape House were featured on BBC Radio Manchester after recording a segment on selective mutism for Chris Packham’s Inside Our Autistic Minds on BBC Two.

The series follows Chris Packham as he meets other autistic people from across the UK and helps them create short films to reveal to their family and friends what’s really going on inside their minds.

Journalist and neurodiversity consultant Nick Ransom spoke with three Inscape House students - Ellis, Ebony, and Saffron – who shared their experiences of selective mutism.

What is selective mutism?

Selective mutism is a complex anxiety disorder where a child can speak in certain settings – such as at home – but can’t in others, such as in public or at school. Students may need to use alternative forms of communication like writing on whiteboards or pictural communication to communicate.

“It can make school really difficult,” Ebony explains. “Asking to use the toilet, working with people, eating in front of people, asking for help, and even being looked at because you think everyone’s looking at you and going to make you talk.”

“Often it feels really frustrating because I want to speak verbally, but I physically can’t,” adds Saffron. "And it is a physical feeling - like my throat's being squeezed and I can't get the words out."

Selective mutism is a rare and often misunderstood condition. Hear more from Ellis, Ebony, and Saffron in the full radio segment below: