Anxiety

Diagnostic criteria for 313.23 Selective Mutism

A.   Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations (in which there is an expectation for speaking, e.g., at school) despite speaking in other situations.

B.  The disturbance interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication.

C.  The duration of the disturbance is at least 1 month (not limited to the first month of school)

D.  The failure to speak is not due to a lack of knowledge of, or comfort with, the spoken language required in the social situation. 

E.   The disturbance is not better accounted for by a Communication Disorder (e.g., Stuttering) and does not occur exclusively during the course of a Persuasive Developmental Disorder, Schizophrenia, or other Psychotic Disorder