selective mutism

noun

: an anxiety disorder of childhood characterized by consistent failure to speak in specific social settings (as at school) despite having the ability to speak normally in other settings (as at home)
If your child talks a lot at home but clams up at school—not uttering a word or even a laugh—she may have selective mutism, an extreme manifestation of anxiety.Scholastic Parent and Child

called also elective mutism

Dictionary Entries Near selective mutism

Cite this Entry

“Selective mutism.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/selective%20mutism. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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