Hey y'all.
So I know this doesn't have anything to do with a dual diagnosis, or even DS in this case, but I am at a loss with my seven year old, Elizabeth. We've had lots of school trouble, and one of her teachers mentioned that she thought Elizabeth might have something called "selective mutism."
Have y'all heard of this? Elizabeth is an extremely bright seven year old with a vocabulary that would knock an adult out. She's pretty, and very social at home, however clams up at school. Not with other kids, just adults. Won't make eye contact. Shudders when you touch her. Weird, lol. She's plain weird.
The school gave me some kind of "Autism scale" sheet to fill out. It has different scenarios with numbers to rate like 1, 1.5, 2. 2.5, etc...
Just really confused, have no idea what "selective mutism" is or if it is Autism related. If anyone knows, tell me.

My niece has selective mutism. Same age as your daughter and same scenario. (She would even raise her hand to answer a question in class and then freeze and not say anything.) She and her parents have seen a psychologist. My brother and his wife were very frustrated with her and told her all the time she needed to work on her manners and speak to adults when they spoke to her. After talking to the psychologist they sat down with my niece and apologized and they said it was as if you could see the stress leaving her body. She talks like crazy at home, but not anywhere else. When we're around her we don't ask questions, like "How do you like ballet?", but make statements, "Ballet sounds like a lot of fun!"

I found some good info on-line when she was first diagnosed. Be careful what you read, though. It used to be thought that selective mutism came about as a result of sexual abuse. This is no longer thought to be the case. They're not sure why it happens.

This looks like a good FAQ:

http://www.selectivemutism.org/FAQ.htm

Here in Ireland we get TV channels from the UK. A few weeks ago there was a documentary on Channel 4 on this particular subject.
You know the routine.....two families are followed for a few months and you get to see the lives of kids with Selective Mutism and how it impacts them. The two kids in question were very bright.

One family had a 9 year old boy who got treatment from a psychologist. With the help of medication he was able to 'talk' to his peers which is where he had all his difficulties.

Another family used a specialist speech and lanugage therapist trained in the area of SM. She worked with the girl and her family to encourage her to talk.

I think if it's been suggested that your daughter has this condition you must seek help for her.

I'm sorry I can be of more assistance with this.

HEY ALL
*YOU ALL HAVE THE MOST GORGIOUS CHILDREN BY THE WAY!*

I HAVE SOME FRIENDS HERE IN UK THAT I AM TRYING TO HELP - THEY HAVE TWO KIDS WITH ASPERGERS AUTISM AND THE YOUNGEST(6) HAS ALSO SELECT MUTISM
THEY WERE IN KENT AND GOT A DIAGNOSIS BUT SINCE MOVING TO NORFOLK THE EXPERTS THERE HAVE SAID THEY WONT LOOK AT THE RECORDS AND DO NOT BELIEVE THE LITTLE GIRL HAS AUTISM AT ALL AND THAT SELECT MUTISM AND AUTISM IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!!!

I AM TRYING TO GET SOME EVIDENCE FOR THEM SO WOULD ANYONE MIND HELPING OUT BY ALLOWING THEM TO SAY THESE PEOPLE HAVE CHILDREN WITH THIS SAME THING?????
WOULD BE VERY KIND OF YOU AND VERY APPRECIATED

MANY THANKS AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU
STEFF