Selective Mutism The Entire Article is in the DF Portal
Selective Mutism is a psychiatric disorder most commonly found in children, characterized by a persistent failure to speak in select settings, which continues for more than 1 month. These children understand spoken language and have the ability to speak normally. In typical cases, they speak to their parents and a few selected others. Sometimes, they do not speak to certain individuals in the home. Most are unable to speak in school, and in other major social situations. Generally, most function normally in other ways, although some may have additional disabilities. Most learn age-appropriate skills and academics. Currently, Selective Mutism, through published studies, appears to be related to severe anxiety, shyness and social anxiety. Selective Mutism may be associated to a variety of things, but the exact cause is yet unknown.

Selective Mutism

Thanks Lindsay.

I have never outgrown this. But, I think, I cope pretty well. Nice to have a "name" to it.

Finally!! Noooooo, I am NOT stubborn, I am not "refusing" to talk. I have a real disorder. It is more than just "shy." Sometimes in stressful situations, my brain shuts down the speaking center and I can't talk.



This post has been edited by mmf: Sep 17 2007, 06:34 PM

blimey, i didnt know there was a word for it.
i started being like this when i was 18 months old and wouldnt talk to anyone but my mum dad brother sister and nan.
the school just said i was shy and would grow out of it but i didnt then the social phobia and agoraphobia started.
just goes to show you learn something new everyday.
thanks

This is interesting. There are times when I feel like I cant talk even if I wanted to, usually around the time after an anxiety attack. I didnt realize there was a name for it. I also have a personality disorder (possibly 2 different ones) along with my depression & anxiety so I guess there are a lot of possibliites of what could cause me to be mute at times.

Hi everyone :)
I am 20, I have MDD and GAD. I thought I might have a kind of social phobia but I never really get phobic symptoms in social situations, sometimes less intense anxiety symptoms, but generally I find I just lose the ability to speak. I wonder if I might have a kind of latent selective mutism? It can happen in large groups, small groups or one on one situations. It is worst in any group of 3 or more. I often find myself unable to speak up, even if I have something pretty funny or insightful to say. It's like I'm afraid of the sound of my own voice, like it would be an unwelcome intrusion, or betray a lack of intelligence. Sometimes I sit up drinking with my housemates for hours without saying a word. I don't physically lose the ability to speak - I will generally respond if I'm spoken to (and will make every attempt to be civil) but will be eager to 'get out of the spotlight' and end the conversation as soon as possible. If it's really bad I might use verbal communication but only as a last resort, when no gesture will suffice. At this point I am usually feeling very anxious and feel a strong need to leave the room. If leaving the room means drawing attention to myself, like if I have to ask someone to move, I opt to stay put, and the anxiety builds. Then we're in panic attack territory... Among friends I am generally better, but can still be just as bad. The interesting thing is that I showed signs of SM as a child, although I grew out of it.
Any advise/opinions appreciated

I have functional aphonia/dysphoia which is basically a conversion disorder resulting in actual voice loss for extended periods of time. The vocal chords paralyse themselves and each time I have to retrain them using speech and voice therapy. It is related to depression and anxiety. Selective mutism comes under the same umbrella.

I don't know if I have this or something else, but hwen I'm really upset or under a lot ofs tress I just can't talk. My brain forms the words, I feel like I'm mentally shouting to my mouth to say them, but it doesn't come out. Its only temporary, like when I'm getting told off by a teacher for doing something wrong or feel really awful about myself, I guess it's that sort of thing. Nice to know it can happen to others, it can be really freaky when it happens and it's hard getting people to understand you really *can't* say anything, partly because you can't speak at the time.

I rarely ever go out anymore, partly because of shyness but mostly because I don't find enjoyment in it anymore. On the rare occasions that I do go out, a lot of the time I wont say a single word. I am not exactly sure why i do it, but when I ask myself why i just think "I can't be bothered" or "I have nothing to say". I can type on a computer but I don't like to move my mouth for some reason... then when I have returned from my strainfull journey of going out somewhere I then ask myself "why the hell did i bother?"
I have a partner of 6 months, but 0 friends, and make little to no effort to make any. I'm not sure if it's because I can't or don't want to.