Selective mutism is a condition in which a child is unable to speak in certain situations, despite being fully capable of speech in others. According to DSM-5, selective mutism is often accompanied by social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, phobias, and situational oppositional behaviors are also common. For example, a child may be unable to speak at school and can communicate without difficulty at home. It’s called selective mutism because a child is only mute in select situations. Imagine being a child entering a classroom full of children, feeling the urge to speak but unable to utter a single word. Or imagine a grown-up at work who really wants to join in the talk but feels paralyzed by the inability to speak up. This is the reality for individuals with Selective mutism.
