Selective Mutism
Selective mutism is characterized by a consistent failure to speak in specific social situations in which there is an expectation for speaking. Children with selective mutism have the ability to both speak and understand language, but fail to use this ability as a result of what we would consider to be social anxiety in adults. Most children with selective mutism function normally in other areas of their lives.
Selective mutism is not a communications disorder and is not part of a developmental disorder. By definition, selective mutism does not include children with conduct disorders, oppositional/defiant behavior, and/or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The principal problem in children with selective mutism is anxiety. This anxiety (which causes avoidance) is closest to the definition of social anxiety disorder in adults. Indeed, most adults with social anxiety disorder relate strongly and can fully understand selective mutism, even though they themselves did not have this problem.
It also appears that cognitive-behavioral therapy, with the emphasis being on the behavioral component (depending on the age of the child) is the therapy of choice.
For more information on this important problem, follow the external links below.
More Information About Selective Mutism
This informative site offers comprehensive information on selective mutism, a forum for parents to discuss the problem, and links to other information on this long-neglected anxiety problem. Thanks to Bob Helta for communicating through the years with The Anxiety Network.
Selective Mutism Foundation, Inc.
The Selective Mutism Foundation offers information, support, pen pals, and research information about selective mutism.
Other legitimate psychological sites will be added when we know about them.
Our History and Our Mission
The Anxiety Network began in 1995 due to growing demand from people around the world wanting help in understanding and overcoming their anxiety disorder. The Anxiety Clinic of Arizona and its website, The Anxiety Network, received so much traffic and requests for help that we found ourselves spending much of our time in international communication and outreach. Our in-person anxiety clinic has grown tremendously, and our principal internet tool, The Anxiety Network, has been re-written and re-designed with focus on the three major anxiety disorders: panic, social anxiety, and generalized anxiety disorder.
The Anxiety Network focuses on three of the major anxiety disorders: panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
In 1997, The Social Anxiety Association, a non-profit organization, was formed and now has its own website.
The Social Anxiety Institute, the largest site on the internet for information and treatment of social anxiety, has maintained an active website since 1998. Continuous, ongoing therapy groups have helped hundreds of people overcome social anxiety since 1994.
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