Selective Mutism
What is selective mutism?
Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder in which a person is consistently unable to speak in certain situations (for example, at nursery or school) but can talk freely in other situations (for example, at home). Selective mutism can present in different ways for different children. Some children are completely frozen and silent in certain situations, while others are still able to respond with a word or two when their selective mutism is triggered.
Selective mutism usually starts in early childhood but can persist into adulthood. Many children can overcome selective mutism when parents and education staff work together to tackle it. Selective mutism is most straightforward to overcome when children are very young.
The information on this webpage is intended for parents, carers, and professionals, including nursery practitioners, teachers, additional learning needs co-ordinators, and teaching assistants. Unless otherwise stated, the information is intended to apply to children of all ages.