What is "selective mutism"

n. (context clinical psychology special education English) Inability to speak or communicate orally in certain social settings.

Selective mutism (SM) is an anxiety disorder in which a person who is normally capable of speech does not speak in specific situations or to specific people. Selective mutism usually co-exists with shyness or social anxiety. People with selective mutism stay silent even when the consequences of their silence include shame, social ostracism or even punishment.

Selective mutism affects about 0.8% of people at some point in their life.