SELECTIVE MUTISM Selective mutism is a complex anxiety disorder that affects pragmatic language. This diagnosis is made when: • The child shows 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 lack of verbal communication interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication. • 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 onset of selective mutism typically occurs between 3 and 6 years of age. • The child is generally able to speak to familiar people who they are comfortable with in familiar settings. • With the same familiar person, the child may be verbal in one setting but mute in another setting. • Within the same setting, the child may be verbal with some people but mute with others or may be mute during specific anxiety-producing activities (e.g., reading out loud, music class). • Performance is most difficult when there is an expectation for speaking (mostly at school). Early intervention for selective mutism is key to remediation. Structured interventions are useful such as: Exposure based practice Systematic desensitisation Stimulus fading Contingency management #selective mutism #socialanxiety #chennaimindclinic #CBT #madipakkam #nanganallur