Selective Mutism is a mental disorder where individuals (most commonly children) do not initiate speech or reciprocally respond when spoken to by others. This lack of speech occurs in both social interactions with children or adults. Children will however, speak in their home in the presence of immediate family members.
Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations in which there is an expectation for speaking (e.g. - at school) despite speaking in other situations.
The disturbance interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication.
The duration of the disturbance is at least 1
month (cannot be during first month of school).
The failure to speak is not attributable to a lack of knowledge of, or comfort with, the spoken language required in the social situation.
The disturbance is not better explained by a communication disorder (e.g. - childhood-onset fluency disorder) and does not occur exclusively during the course of autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, or another psychotic disorder.
Specify if:
4
of the following symptoms occur (Note: The abrupt surge can occur from a calm state or an anxious state):