Psychogenic mutism, which is also referred to as selective mutism, is
mutism without any apparent physical cause
.
What is psychological mutism?
Psychiatry. Selective mutism (SM) is
an anxiety disorder in which a person who is otherwise capable of speech becomes unable to speak when exposed to specific situations
, specific places, or to specific people, one or multiple of which serving as triggers. Selective mutism usually co-exists with social anxiety disorder …
Can you be mute from trauma?
Neurological damage or problems with development of the area of the brain involved in speech production,
Broca’s area
, may cause muteness. Trauma or injury to Broca’s area, located in the left inferior frontal cortex of the brain, can cause muteness.
What can cause mutism?
- An anxiety disorder.
- Poor family relationships.
- Untreated psychological issues.
- Self-esteem problems.
- Problems with sound processing.
- A speech or language problem, such as stuttering.
- Family history of anxiety disorders.
What are the types of mutism?
- Elective Mutism: A person chooses not to speak as a result of psychological issues.
- Selective Mutism: A person wants to speak, but in certain circumstances finds that they can’t.
- Total Mutism: A person doesn’t speak under any circumstance.
Is selective mutism a psychological disorder?
Selective Mutism is a
complex childhood anxiety disorder
characterized by a child’s inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social settings, such as school. These children are able to speak and communicate in settings where they are comfortable, secure, and relaxed.
What kind of trauma causes mutism?
Some of the causes of psychogenic mutism may be
general anxiety or past trauma
. For example, a child who is learning to speak might stop speaking if he or she is molested or threatened.
Is mutism a mental illness?
Selective mutism is
a severe anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations
, such as with classmates at school or to relatives they do not see very often. It usually starts during childhood and, if left untreated, can persist into adulthood.
Is selective mutism rare?
Selective mutism is
a rare psychiatric condition primarily occurring during childhood
. It is characterized by the failure to speak in certain social situations. The ability to speak and understand spoken language is not impaired, and may be exhibited in more familiar environments.
Is mutism a disability?
Selective Mutism is
not a Learning disability
, Emotional disturbance, nor a Speech/Language impairment. A Selectively Mute student who displays any of these conditions would then have an additional and separate education need.
Can mutism be cured?
The good news is that
selective mutism is very treatable with the right care
. Kids with SM respond best to behavioral therapy that is focused on helping them learn to speak in new settings, during new activities and with new people.
What is traumatic mutism?
Reactive mutism:
a reaction to trauma and/or abuse
, with all children showing symptoms of depression and being notably withdrawn, usually showing no facial expressions. Notably, Hayden admits that some children put in this category had no apparent incident to react to, but they were included because of their symptoms.
Can selective mutism go away?
Selective mutism typically does not go away on its own
, and in fact can lead to worsened anxiety and social difficulty if not addressed. Treatment requires a cohesive plan between home and school to produce lasting change.
What does muteness mean?
1 :
unable to speak
: lacking the power of speech. 2 : characterized by absence of speech: such as. a : felt or experienced but not expressed touched her hand in mute sympathy her mute hostility.
Why can’t I talk when I’m anxious?
Coordination and thinking problems
can occur to any of us when the body becomes abnormally stressed, and in addition anxiety can cause changes to breathing patterns which can contribute to voice and speech difficulty.
Social anxiety is an anxiety disorder based on performance dynamics. Selective mutism is an example of
social phobia
as the anxiety has morphed into avoidance. Avoidance due to anxiety is a phobia. Selective mutism is also a manifestation of obsessive compulsive disorder.
