Selective mutism

The NHS describes selective mutism as an anxiety disorder Anxiety in children Strong or lasting worry that starts to get in the way of everyday life. It is common in children, and very common alongside autism and ADHD. Read the full definition of Anxiety in children : the child is unable to speak in certain situations, not choosing to stay silent. A child may chat non-stop at home and say nothing at all at school. Because it can look like shyness, rudeness or defiance, it is often missed or misread, and the NHS notes that it usually starts in childhood and can persist if left untreated, so it is worth raising early with school, your GP GP Your family doctor. For many families the GP is the first person to talk to, and the person who refers your child on to a specialist. Read the full definition of GP or a speech and language therapist. Many autistic people and speech and language therapists now prefer the name situational mutism, because the word selective wrongly suggests the child is picking when to speak.