Episode 74 of the Unspoken Words podcast features a discussion between Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum and Dr. Jenna Blum, exploring one of the most frequently asked — and misunderstood — questions in the selective mutism community: Is it SM, autism, or both?

In the episode, Dr. E and Dr. Jenna break down the core features of each condition and explain why they so often look alike on the surface — while stemming from very different underlying causes. They discuss why the home environment is one of the most important diagnostic clues, how a child's motivation for peer connection can reveal whether anxiety or the social puzzle is driving their shutdown, and why the reason behind the silence matters just as much as the silence itself.

They also cover the critical distinction between comfort and skills — why children with SM have innate social know-how that anxiety blocks, while children on the autism spectrum often need those social skills explicitly taught. Additionally, they address masking, restricted interests, echolalia, and the initiation-versus-response dynamic that can look surprisingly different in the autism population. The episode closes with an overview of the SMart Center's evaluation process, including how the SME, ADOS, and ADIR tools work together to bring clarity to complex, overlapping presentations.

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(03:04) Is It SM, Autism, or Both? Introducing the Overlap and Core Features of Each Condition

(09:38) The Social Puzzle: How Motivation and Peer Interest Reveal What's Really Driving the Shutdown

(19:25) The Passenger in the Car: Why Social Communication Skills Must Be Taught, Not Just Unlocked

(28:42) Same Behaviors, Different Reasons: How to Distinguish SM From Autism Across Settings

(39:49) Masking, Misdiagnosis, and the Evaluation Process: What a Thorough Assessment Actually Looks Like

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: https://selectivemutismcenter.org/resources/

Ask Dr. E a question of your own!

Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum

Explore our SMart Center success stories!

Get started at the SMart Center

Listen to other Unspoken Words episodes here.

For the best clips from every episode, follow the podcast on Instagram & YouTube

Share our upcoming Selective Mutism In The School Virtual Conference on April, 10th, 2026, with your child or teen’s school staff. 6.5 CEs/CEUs are available.

Learn more about CommuniCamp, our 3+ day intensive group treatment and ALL DAY parent training & support program

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For all podcast inquiries, please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠

This podcast was produced and published by New Edition Productions (neweditionconsulting.com)

Episode 73 of the Unspoken Words podcast features a discussion between Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum and Dr. Jenna Blum, exploring the PVC model — a practical, anxiety-lowering framework built around three core principles: Preparing, Visuals, and Choice questions.

In the episode, Dr. E and Dr. Jenna discuss why deliberate preparation before an exposure matters more than most families realize, and how anticipation anxiety can undermine a child's readiness before they even walk through the door.

They cover how visuals reduce cognitive load in ways verbal preparation alone cannot, why choice questions are a powerful tool for moving a child from responding to initiating, and how silent goals allow parents to set up supportive environments for resistant or overwhelmed children. They also introduce the look-listen-learn approach to understanding what strategies work best for each individual.

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Chapters:

(03:26) What the PVC Model Is and Why Anxiety Makes Communication So Hard

(13:19) Why Preparation Before an Exposure Matters More Than the Exposure Itself

(25:29) How Visuals Lower Cognitive Load and Why Writing It Down Changes Everything

(33:15) Using the Social Communication Bridge to Meet Every Child Where They Are

(43:05) Why Choice Questions Are the Key to Moving From Responding to Initiating

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCE: Prepare, Visuals, Choices! A Parent’s Guide to Reducing Anxiety and Boosting Communication for Children with Selective Mutism

Ask Dr. E a question of your own!

Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum

Explore our SMart Center success stories!

Get started at the SMart Center

Listen to other Unspoken Words episodes here.

For the best clips from every episode, follow the podcast on Instagram & YouTube

Share our upcoming Selective Mutism In The School Virtual Conference on April, 10th, 2026, with your child or teen’s school staff. 6.5 CEs/CEUs are available.

Learn more about CommuniCamp, our 3+ day intensive group treatment and ALL DAY parent training & support program

-

For all podcast inquiries, please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠

This podcast was produced and published by New Edition Productions (neweditionconsulting.com)

Episode 72 of the Unspoken Words podcast features Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum and Dr. Jenna Blum exploring why Selective Mutism is so much more than shyness and why comprehensive assessment matters.

In the episode, Dr. E and Dr. Jenna discuss how misunderstanding SM as simple shyness leads to missed diagnoses.

They explore the distinction between shyness and anxiety-based communication challenges, identify common comorbidities (ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, sensory processing challenges, and speech/language issues), and explain when additional testing is needed.

They also cover how to recognize red flags across settings and why understanding each child's underlying "whys" leads to more effective treatment planning.

(04:22) Why "Just Get Them Comfortable" Doesn't Work When Treating Selective Mutism

(14:21) Recognizing That Selective Mutism Is More Than Shyness

(19:35) Selective Mutism Comorbidities You Need to Know About

(28:19) The Less Anxious A Mute Child Looks, the More You Need to Dig Deeper

(33:16) Assessing and Testing a Selectively Mute Individual

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⁠Ask Dr. E⁠ a question of your own!

⁠Learn more⁠ about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum

Explore our⁠ SMart Center success stories⁠!

⁠Get started⁠ at the SMart Center

Listen to other Unspoken Words episodes⁠ here⁠.

For the best clips from every episode, follow the podcast on⁠ Instagram⁠ &⁠ YouTube⁠

Share our⁠ upcoming Selective Mutism In The School Virtual Conference⁠ on April, 10th, 2026, with your child or teen’s school staff. 6.5 CEs/CEUs are available.

⁠Learn more about CommuniCamp⁠, our 3+ day intensive group treatment and ALL DAY parent training & support program

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For all podcast inquiries, please contact Dakota Hornak at⁠ ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠⁠

This podcast was produced and promoted by⁠ New Edition Consulting⁠ (neweditionconsulting.com)