Selective mutism
Find out about selective mutism, a severe anxiety disorder that prevents a person from speaking to certain people or in certain social situations.
Selective mutism usually starts in early childhood, between the ages of two and four. It's often first noticed whenthe child starts to interact with people outside their family, such aswhen they begin
Experts regard selective mutism asa fear (phobia) of talking to certain people. The cause isn't always clear, butit's known to be associated with anxiety. Thechildwill usually have inherited a tende
Left untreated, selective mutism can lead to isolation, low self-esteem and social anxiety disorder . It can continue into adolescence and adulthood if not tackled. However, a child can successfully
It's important to understand how selective mutism canaffect a child's education and development, and the impact it can have on a young person's or adult's everyday life. A person with selective mutis
With appropriate handling and treatment, most children are able to overcome selective mutism.But the older they are when the condition is diagnosed, the longer it will take. The effectiveness of trea
You may find the advice below helpful if your child has been diagnosed with selective mutism. Don't pressurise or bribe your child to encourage them to speak. Let your child know you understand the
It's only relativelyrecently that selective mutism has been properly understood and effective treatment approaches have been developed. The body of expertise among healthcare professionals, education