Not only group home support staff, but others have been around people who may be diagnosed with or have gone undiagnosed with the social anxiety disorder, selective mutism (formerly known as elective mutism). Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder in which someone who can normally speak is unable to speak in certain situations. Often a person with this disorder may just seem unusually shy.
Selective mutism was was first described in 1934, but there was no research done until 1990. At this time Dr. Bruce Black from the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland held the first research program.
More about selective mutism can be found on the site, Selective Mutism. The site includes information on the following topics;
- The Causes of selective mutism
- Common Symptoms of selective mutism
- Treatment available for selective mutism
- Some common questions about selective mutism
There are many forms of anxiety disorders and this is one of them. The Selective Mutism site is very informative on this topic.
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