Conditions · Anxiety
Selective mutism — AACAP family-facing guide
An anxiety disorder of childhood in which a child reliably speaks in some settings and not in others — and is often mistaken for defiance or shyness.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry6 min read
AACAP's Facts for Families on selective mutism is short, accurate, and free. It frames the condition correctly as an anxiety disorder (not a speech or language disorder, not oppositional behavior) and points to behavioral therapy as first-line treatment.
Useful for teachers and pediatricians who see the child briefly, as well as families navigating the school-accommodation conversation.
Mental Hum's library is a curated index of authoritative third-party resources. The summary above is our own framing; the full information lives at the source.
A note on this article
Mental Hum publishes general education, not medical advice. If something here reflects your own experience, please consider speaking to a clinician. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.