Unwilling or unable to speak.
Felt or expressed without speech.
The state of silence, or being without speech, for whatever reason. Some children are aphasic and unable to speak, because of damage to the speech apparatus or the connections to the brain. Some are almost totally unresponsive, except perhaps for a whispered “yes” or “no,” for physical reasons such as brain tumors or hydrocephalus; this is called akinetic mutism. But some children, who are physically able both to speak and to understand language, choose not to speak, communicating instead mostly by gestures or nods. This elective mutism is often found in young children, usually under age five, and is sometimes associated with shyness or separation anxiety, though the possibility of mental retardation or speech problems should always be explored. In somewhat older children, elective mutism may be linked with school phobia, and may respond to a change of school. Mutism also may be a symptom of some kinds of mental disorder.