In familiar surroundings, it plays with its siblings and parents, laughs and romps. However, if a person suddenly comes along, the behavior changes abruptly: Suddenly, the child can no longer utter a word, he or she remains silent, looks away, “locks out” completely. Do you also know this from your offspring? Your child may be affected by mutism, a communication disorder that experts estimate affects 6,000 to 10,000 people in Germany. Mutism is particularly common in childhood.
Frequency of mutism
According to a 2001 study, the number of cases of selective mutism is 7 children per 1,000. The phenomenon is about twice as common as autism, with which mutism is not infrequently confused.
The term derives from the Latin “mutus” meaning “mute” and describes a person’s persistent, fear-induced silence, which intensifies over time and eventually can hardly be controlled at will. There is no defect in the speech organs or hearing as a cause.
Mutism in children
If children become completely silent in certain situations or towards some people, this does not always have to do with defiance, ill-breeding or momentary shyness, but could be signs of a mutism syndrome.
Parents often misinterpret children with mutism as shy or listless: In the familiar environment of family, siblings, and close friends, the affected person talks normally and in a relaxed manner, but as soon as there is even a suspicion that someone else is listening in or a third party sees that the mouth is moving, the mutist lapses into silence.
Causes of mutism
A distinction is made between “total mutism” – affected individuals do not speak at all – and the much more common “selective mutism” (also called elective mutism), when affected individuals are silent only to certain people or in certain situations.
Diagnosis is not easy, and mutism is often not recognized, misunderstood or disregarded as a syndrome to be treated. However, if the communication disorder is detected early, the chances of recovery are good.
Selective mutism is not a disease in the strict sense, but one of the possible symptoms of “social anxiety”. Some of the main causes of selective mutism are:
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Congenital (genetic) shyness or inhibition of the child.
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intrafamilial problems
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Speech development disorders or speech abnormalities of the child (he is silent because he is ashamed of his (imperfect) voice/language)
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Anxiety disorders, especially “social phobia” (want to hide, do not want to be the center of attention, fear of unknown people or situations)
