Selective Mutism: Causes and Number

What causes selective mutism?

Many times a child with selective mutism has or is experiencing:

  • an anxiety disorder
  • inner self/self-esteem issues
  • a speech, language, or hearing problem
  • trauma

How common is selective mutism?

According to the DSM-IV-TR, selective mutism is an apparently rare disorder that affects fewer than 1% of individuals seen in mental health settings.

The ASHA Leader articles

Research articles

To locate additional sources of information related to selective mutism try using the following terms in the search box located in the top right corner of this page and in other Internet search engines:

  • Anxiety disorders of childhood
  • Elective mutism
  • Elementary school problems with speech and language

See Also:

Selective Mutism


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