What disease causes mutism

Mutism may be caused by psychological trauma, language developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorders, selective mutism, brain damage, and other factors. Mutism manifests as the refusal of verbal communication in specific situations or on a continuous basis, and requires intervention based on specific causes.

1. Psychological trauma

Strong emotional impact or long-term suppression may lead to temporary suppression of language function. Children may experience brief silence due to fear or anxiety after experiencing domestic violence or school bullying. Adults may also experience stress language disorders after experiencing major accidents. This type of situation needs to be gradually restored through psychological counseling and environmental adjustment.

2. Language developmental disorders

Children with specific language developmental delays may have expressive language disorders, manifested as a lack of vocabulary or difficulty organizing sentences. Some children experience language input obstruction due to abnormal auditory processing, which in turn affects their output function. Early language rehabilitation training can help improve symptoms.

3. Social communication deficits are one of the core characteristics of autism spectrum disorder [SEP], and some children have language proficiency disorders. This type of silence is often accompanied by stereotyped behavior and sensory sensitivity, and requires targeted intervention through behavioral analysis therapy. About one-third of patients may maintain nonverbal communication throughout their lives.

4. Selective mutism

is more common in school aged children, who continue to have aphasia in specific social situations but communicate normally in familiar environments. Closely related to social anxiety, it may involve neural mechanisms such as overactivation of the amygdala. The combination of desensitization therapy and positive reinforcement training has a better effect.

5. Brain injury

Broca area damage may lead to motor aphasia, where patients understand normally but cannot organize language. If stroke, brain tumor, or trauma affects the language central network, it may cause permanent silence. It is necessary to locate the lesion through imaging examination and cooperate with language function rehabilitation treatment.

For sudden mutism, it is recommended to seek medical evaluation as soon as possible to rule out organic lesions. In daily communication, pressure should be avoided and trust relationships can be established through nonverbal means. Parents should pay attention to observing the language development milestones of their children, and professional screening should be conducted for those who do not speak continuously before school age. Adult patients can try alternative forms of expression such as art therapy, and if necessary, use anti anxiety drugs under the guidance of a doctor to assist in treatment. Maintaining patient companionship has a positive effect on language function recovery.