Treatment Options For Selective Mutism

Selective mutism is a severe anxiety disorder that usually develops between ages three and five. A child with selective mutism is anxious to the point they cannot speak. Girls are more often affected than boys. Typically, patients are paralyzed by fear and are worried about embarrassment when speaking. Patients with selective mutism are often also diagnosed with social anxiety. The earlier selective mutism is treated the better. Treatment is necessary because it does not go away and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. It can lead to academic underachievement and social isolation later on in life.