Selective Mutism Research Paper

What Causes Selective Mutism?
By Susha Cheriyedath, MSc
There are several risk factors for selective mutism, all of which play a key role in the development of the disorder. These factors include a family history of anxiety, speech issues, language problems, and a tendency to avoid unfamiliar settings. There is no evidence that abuse or neglect can cause selective mutism in children or adolescents.
Genetic Factors
Most children with the condition are genetically predisposed to anxiety disorder. They show signs of severe anxiety, including tantrums and crying, separation anxiety, moodiness, sleep issues, and shyness right from infancy. These children have severe inhibitions, which make them more prone to anxiety.
Sensory Disorders
Some children
Others may experience minor learning disabilities and shyness. These disabilities add to the child’s stress and make the child insecure in fearful situations where they are expected to speak. However, some studies show that many children affected by selective mutism are early and fluent speakers and don’t show any signs of any other abnormality or processing disorder.
Influence of Language
According to the Selective Mutism Anxiety Research and Treatment Center, some kids with selective mutism are part of a multilingual family or were exposed to new languages in childhood or have lived in a foreign country. In these children, there is this added stress of speaking multiple languages, which causes a sense of insecurity gradually leading to higher anxiety levels and thus mutism.
A small proportion of children affected by selective mutism do not exhibit timidity or shyness or any signs of social anxiety. They are good performers and even attention seekers. Research shows that causes for mutism in these children can be different and they may be just stuck with non-verbal expressions and are not confident enough or reluctant to try out verbal
When a child is caught up in a fearful scenario and is mute, usually an adult who can be a parent or teacher tries to help him out by answering the question on the child’s behalf or in other words “rescues” the child. This is a quite common scenario for children with selective mutism at school, a store, or when guests come