the.com/mutism
Sometimes the mind or body blocks speech entirely, even when words are understood and meant.
means A condition or state of being unable or unwilling to speak, whether from physical cause, psychological shutdown, or deliberate choice.
from From French mutisme, built on Latin mutus meaning 'silent' or 'dumb' — the same root that gives English 'mute.' Latin mutus itself is likely an ancient imitative formation, one of those words across many language families that mimics the closed-mouth sound of someone trying and failing to speak — a hum with nowhere to go.
- not shyness
- Selective mutism is anxiety, not a personality trait
- vocal cords fine
- The muscles work; the brain blocks the signal
- can be sudden
- Trauma or stroke can trigger abrupt total mutism
- kids outgrow it
- Most childhood cases improve with targeted therapy, not time