Selective Mutism Overview
Learn About Selective Mutism
Selective mutism is a condition in which a child can speak, but then suddenly stops speaking. It most often takes place in school or social settings.
Selective mutism is most common in children under age 5. The cause, or causes, are unknown. Most experts believe that children with the condition inherit a tendency to be anxious and inhibited. Most children with selective mutism have some form of extreme social fear (phobia).
Parents often think that the child is choosing not to speak. However in most cases, the child is truly unable to speak in certain settings.
Some affected children have a family history of selective mutism, extreme shyness, or anxiety disorders, which may increase their risk for similar problems.
This syndrome is not the same as mutism. In selective mutism, the child can understand and speak, but is unable to speak in certain settings or environments. Children with mutism never speak.
Symptoms include:
- Ability to speak at home with family
- Fear or anxiety around people they do not know well
- Inability to speak in certain social situations
- Shyness
This pattern must be seen for at least 1 month to be called selective mutism. (The first month of school does not count, because shyness is common during this period.)
Treating selective mutism involves behavior changes. The child's family and school should be involved. Certain medicines that treat anxiety and social phobia have been used safely and successfully.
Peter Muris practices in Maastricht, Netherlands. Mr. Muris and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Selective Mutism. His top areas of expertise are Selective Mutism, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Asperger's Syndrome.
Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children, Great Ormond Street
Sebastian Toescu practices in London, United Kingdom. Mr. Toescu and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Selective Mutism. His top areas of expertise are Selective Mutism, Posterior Fossa Tumor, Medulloblastoma, Embryonal Tumor with Multilayered Rosettes, and Parathyroidectomy.
Rigshospitalet
Jonathan Gronbaek practices in Copenhagen, Denmark. Mr. Gronbaek and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Selective Mutism. His top areas of expertise are Selective Mutism, Posterior Fossa Tumor, Brain Tumor, and Medulloblastoma.
You can find information and resources through selective mutism support groups.
Children with this syndrome can have different outcomes. Some may need to continue therapy for shyness and social anxiety into the teenage years, and possibly into adulthood.
Selective mutism can affect the child's ability to function in school or social settings. Without treatment, symptoms may get worse.
Contact your health care provider if your child has symptoms of selective mutism, and it is affecting school and social activities.
Summary: Selective mustism (SM) is an anxiety disorder that manifests in childhood. Children with Children with SM do not speak in certain social situations where this is expected of them. For example, a child may talk at home, but is afraid to speak at school. The goal of this clinical trial is to determine the efficacy of behavioral therapy for children with selective mutism (SM) combined with virtual re...
Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine why up to 25% of the pediatric patients who have surgery for a tumor in the posterior fossa develops the Cerebellar Mutism Syndrome (CMS). Furthermore the purpose is to explore the clinical course and the best treatment of the syndrome.
Published Date: May 04, 2024
Published By: Fred K. Berger, MD, addiction and forensic psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Bang JY, Feldman HM. Language development and communication disorders. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 53.
Kim RK. Anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 38.
Thom RP, Prince JB, Rubin DH. Child and adolescent psychiatric disorders. In: Stern TA, Wilens TE, Fava M, eds. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 39.