Selective mutism

anxiety disorder causing inability to speak under certain circumstances

Selective mutism (also referred as SM) is an anxiety disorder where a person normally cannot speak in specific situations, specific places, or to specific people if a certain condition is triggered. Selective mutism usually occurs while the person has a social anxiety disorder.[1][2][3][4] Children and adults with selective mutism are fully capable of speech and understanding language but simply cannot speak because they physically cannot speak in certain settings.[5] People with selective mutism stay silent even when the consequences of their silence include shame, social rejection, or punishment.[6]

References change

  1. Viana, A. G.; Beidel, D. C.; Rabian, B. (2009). "Selective mutism: A review and integration of the last 15 years". Clinical Psychology Review. 29 (1): 57–67. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2008.09.009. PMID 18986742.
  2. Dummit, E. S.; Klein, R. G.; Tancer, N. K.; Asche, B.; Martin, J.; Fairbanks, J. A. (1997). "Systematic Assessment of 50 Children with Selective Mutism". Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 36 (5): 653–660. doi:10.1097/00004583-199705000-00016. PMID 9136500.
  3. Vecchio, J. L.; Kearney, C. A. (2005). "Selective Mutism in Children: Comparison to Youths with and Without Anxiety Disorders". Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. 27: 31–37. doi:10.1007/s10862-005-3263-1. S2CID 144770110.
  4. Black, B.; Uhde, T. W. (1995). "Psychiatric Characteristics of Children with Selective Mutism: A Pilot Study". Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 34 (7): 847–856. doi:10.1097/00004583-199507000-00007. PMID 7649954.
  5. Adelman, L. (2007). Don't Call me Shy. LangMarc Publishing. ISBN 978-1880292327.
  6. Brown, Harriet (12 April 2005). "The Child Who Would Not Speak a Word". The New York Times.