Selective Mutism and It’s Significance

By Jiyu Choi

Abstract 

Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder that makes someone unable to speak in a social setting or in uncomfortable situations. These individuals with this disorder can talk and express themselves in normal settings. It starts usually at a young age, but can last until adulthood, impacting their life as a whole. Selective mutism differs from shyness or extreme timidness; it is not a normal personality trait and makes one feel an intense amount of inhibition due to the phobia of talking, or the anxiety they face (SMA, 2025). 

Cause and Effect of Selective Mutism 

There are many different causes of how selective mutism could occur, such as anxiety, fear of talking, difficulty in verbally expressing themselves, and talking in general. There is no set cause of this, and it can vary depending on the person. It is possible that it could be inherited from other anxious family members, as it increases the chances of developing shy characteristics, leading to this disorder. People who struggle with selective mutism can talk to certain people, but in situations where they feel negative emotions, such as being uncomfortable, timid, angry, or upset, it can cause their disorder to activate. Selective mutism makes the individual much more quiet than usual and very timid, as they start to speak as little as possible, hide behind a trusted adult, mumble their words, or freeze up. Out of fear, people who struggle with this disorder usually avoid social situations where they would have to talk. If they do attend these situations and then get nervous or anxious, it can cause them to act out. 

Treatment of Selective Mutism 

To treat selective mutism, one must focus on reducing the amount of anxiety the individual faces. Attending therapy is a great way to treat this, as it teaches ways to cope with or handle anxiety well and not to freeze up. Therapy is one of the most efficient ways to help people with selective mutism open up, as it teaches them things that can help decrease anxiety, which is the main root of this disorder. Forcing an individual with this disorder to speak or shoving them in social settings, expecting them to talk, will only further traumatize and worsen the disorder. It causes negative memories or experiences with social settings, causing anxiety to deepen in their mindset and thoughts. It creates an intense amount of pressure, which would cause the individual to avoid social settings and resolving the issue. Instead, approaching them in a more gentle and time-consuming way can be more effective. It is suggested that the individual with selective mutism should be aware that they have this disorder, for it can help the person to understand the purpose of the treatments or the things they do (SMA, 2025).

Conclusion 

Selective mutism can have a large impact on one’s life, since it limits their ability to communicate and express themselves verbally. This disorder causes one to have a difficult time in certain situations, usually in social settings, making them freeze up. It makes it hard for them to get their way or for people to understand how they are feeling. Finding treatments for this disorder will not only help them handle their anxiety, but also let them change their life by learning how to deal with situations that they fear. Due to the main cause of Selective mutism being caused by anxiety, treating it with anxiety-reducing ways is very effective. 

References 

Treatment statement. Selective Mutism Association. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.selectivemutism.org/treatment-statement/ 

Selective mutism: Overcoming anxiety to find your voice. Cleveland Clinic. (2025). Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/selective-mutism