Selective Mutism
If a child stops speaking in social situations but talks fine at home, he may have selective mutism, a rare condition affecting about 1% of school-aged children—slightly more girls than boys. Selective mutism usually surfaces at high-anxiety times such as starting school or changing schools. One Barrie, Ont., mother of emotionally close identical twin boys reports that one of her sons developed the condition when he and his brother were assigned to separate classrooms.
Such children may appear to refuse to speak out of stubbornness—which is frustrating for parents and teachers. “But what they need most is patience and understanding,” says Dr. Katharina Manassis, a psychiatrist and director of the anxiety disorders clinic at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. “They are not trying to be defiant; they can’t help their silence.” Some experts believe anxiety tightens their vocal cords until they are physiologically unable to speak. “In most cases, they will talk again after a month,” says Manassis. Encourage a mute child to communicate by nodding or shaking his head or whispering. If mutism persists beyond a month, your family doctor can refer him to a psychologist for treatment.
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