How to help someone with SM

A lot of people don't know how to help someone with SM, or may think they know how to but instead cause more anxiety for us. These are just some ways to help someone with SM but can change with every person who has it:

• Give us more than one way to communicate, whether its through writing or asking simpler questions which we can answer by shaking our head. Even if we can normally communicate verbally if someone, there are times when we can't always do that, so its good to have other ways to communicate. Accept more than one way to communicate.

• Take away all pressure to speak. The pressure of speaking can make it even more difficult for us to speak.

• Don't make a big deal of us speaking/not speaking.

• Be relaxed around us

• Give us time to answer questions, it can take us time to process things that are said to us, especially when we’re anxious

• Be patient

• Create a comfortable environment for us

• Allow hesitation

• Educate yourself and others around you