Selective mutism

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 happens while the person has a social anxiety disorder. 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. People with selective mutism stay silent even when the consequences of their silence include shame, social rejection, or punishment.

References

  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.