Selective mutism : a misunderstood beast

The purpose of this paper is to inform the reader about selective mutism, an early childhood communicative disorder in which the child is unable to communicate effectively in specific environments, but in other environments communication the individual is able to communicate normally. This paper encourages early diagnosis and highlights the benefits of early intervention for the disorder. It explores three different types of treatment methods including; behavioral arid cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication, and individual psychotherapy as well as providing a brief history of the diagnosis. Further research is needed to better define its cause/s, investigate the effectiveness of the current treatment methods, and develop accurate testing methods to better identify individuals with the disorder.