Selective mutism as a condition characterized by failure to speak in public places - Term Paper Example

In the view of the physician, the child chose not to talk although they had the capacity to do so. In the subsequent years, physicians referred the disorder as elective mutism. During those years, there was a speculation that it was out of rebellion and stubbornness that the children did not talk. People easily judged these children as employing a manipulative willful technique through their silence. Other physicians suggested that the possible causes of the silence were a result of trauma. They thought that trauma would disturb a child to a level of muting in some social settings.

However, a great percentage of children with this disorder did not have a history of trauma in their lives. From studies of effects of trauma, there were no valid explanations as to how trauma would lead a child to choose not to speak in public. Due to lack of logic in this, research on the real cause of the disorder continued. Physicians realized that these children did not willingly choose to alienate themselves in society. There were internal factors that led to rise of the condition (Cline and Baldwin, 2004).

According to Gimpel and Holland (2003), better understanding of the condition led to a change in description to selective mutism. The new description led to a change in attitude towards these children. Since these children have a lot of phobia and anxiety that led to their selective silence, research focuses on understanding the sources of these. Some physicians suggest that the condition is a manifestation of social disorder at a tender age. However, although there are similarities in the two conditions, selective muting resolves after a short time.

With the new description, came along a new diagnosis of the disorder. Proper diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation by the. According to the research findings individual ability to perform social skills such as public speaking or academics relies on the brain development. Largely, psychiatrists and medics attribute problems in social, communication, and academics skills to disorders, which occur from infancy. Selective mutism is a condition where a child is unable to make eloquent public speech.

It is evident that early days of the child in school is the common time when parent or teachers note the presence of this problem. Psychiatrist argues that some of these problems occur due to dysfunction of some components of the brain. Further, selective mutism, comorbid disorders relate in one way or the other. Generally, a child suffering from any of these disorders may also face other problems other than the primary problem. Social phobia and selective mutism has some close relationship. It is evident that children who come from families, which face social phobia, may suffer selective mutism.

Understanding of selective mutism among children is very critical because it helps psychologists and medics to administer treatment as well as psychological counseling approach that would be beneficial to the child. Selective mutism and social phobia may persist to adulthood. Comorbid disorders occur along side primary disorder. Psychiatrists attribute comorbid disorders to a common cause and they have various effects to development of the child. Comorbid disorders include the following depression, tic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, specific learning disorder, pervasive development disorder, anxiety disorder, conduct disorder among others.