Behavioral intervention to treat selective mutism across multiple social situations and community settings.

Lang et al. (2011) worked with one 9-year-old who had selective mutism.

The team filmed the boy doing short role-plays where he spoke to adults.

They edited the clips so only his clear speech stayed in.

The child then watched these “self-model” videos before going into real places like a restaurant, a playground, and a store.

After each video watch, the boy started more conversations and answered more questions.

Breakdowns—like frozen silence or whispers—dropped in every setting.

The gains held for weeks with no extra rewards needed.

Sasson et al. (2022) used the same video-plus-practice recipe at recess. Three students with autism and intellectual disability also talked and played more, showing the package works across diagnoses and places.

Lanfranchi et al. (2022) swapped role-play for short “think first” lessons before kids watched social clips. Anxious 8- to 11-year-olds still improved, proving the video part drives the change, not just acting practice.

Lance et al. (2014) used self-model clips to boost compliance in hospitalized children. Both studies show two-minute videos of the child himself can shift tough behaviors without extra prizes.

You can copy this low-cost plan tomorrow. Film your client saying short lines during play, edit out silence, and show the clip right before a community trip. One viewing can unlock speech in restaurants, parks, or stores—no tokens, no toys, just the child watching himself succeed.