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Reference.org
Selective mutism
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<p>Selective mutism (SM) is an <a href="/facts/Anxiety_disorder/wh9zFH1V">anxiety disorder</a> in which a person who is otherwise capable of <a href="/facts/Speech/WEelhfTs">speech</a> becomes unable to speak when exposed to specific situations, specific places, or to specific people, one or multiple of which serve as <a href="/facts/Trauma_trigger/vhWRXFkv">triggers</a>. Selective mutism usually co-exists with <a href="/facts/Social_anxiety_disorder/25XIzJ0o">social anxiety disorder</a>. People with selective mutism stay silent even when the consequences of their silence include shame, social ostracism, or punishment. </p>