As group home support staff, selective mutism (formerly known as elective mutism) may be one of the social anxiety disorder group home residents may be diagnosed with. Often though, this is an undiagnosed disorder. Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder in which someone who can normally speak is unable to speak in certain situations. Many group home support staff have seen this when they take group home residents into the community.
This disorder was first described in 1934, but there was no research done on this disorder 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;
There are many forms of anxiety disorders and this is one of them
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