Selective Mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder in which children do not speak in specific social situations where it is expected (such as at school), despite being able to speak freely in other settings. Without treatment, SM can lead to school dropout, limited future opportunities, and chronic anxiety or mood disorders.

In collaboration with Levvel and the Visualization Lab (UVA), Amsterdam UMC has developed Virtual Reality (VR) homework exercises as an adjunct to the behavioral therapeutic protocol Speaking at School, A Matter of Doing.

SM treatment primarily takes place at school, where the problem is most evident. The addition of VR homework to behavioral therapy allows children to gradually practice speaking in a virtual school environment. The exercises are introduced step by step, starting with simple tasks such as blowing and making sounds, eventually progressing to speaking in full sentences. VR homework provides children with an additional opportunity to practice their speaking skills in a safe and familiar environment at their own pace.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the behavioral treatment Speaking at school, a Matter of Doing with VR homework as an adjunct using a Single Case Experimental Design (SCED).