Selective Mutism in Adolescents As the composition of students in classrooms changes and general education teachers are educating a range of students with diverse needs, new learning barriers are becoming prominent in American classrooms. One such learning difficulty that is emerging is a speech disorder called selective mutism. Selective mutism is defined as a speech disorder in which individuals who exhibit normal language skills without delays in everyday home situations are unwilling or unable to speak when confronted with new situations or people. This disorder, when presented in the classroom, can affect both the student's social and academic progress. When considering students who exhibit symptoms of selective mutism, there is controversy over the diagnosis, the origins of the disorder, and to what extent it should be considered a learning disability. Selective mutism is not as common to see in classrooms as only 3-0.7% of children exhibit symptoms. These children are often afraid of talking to strangers, avoid new social situations and show discomfort when placed in a new environment. Some researchers note that these symptoms are similar to those seen in children with social anxiety disorders (Yeganeh, et al., 2003). The similarities between selective mutism and social anxiety have led researchers to believe that selective mutism is an anxiety disorder. To treat it, information must be known about the child's family, history, and other past factors that may have contributed to this disorder. (Borger et al., 2007). However, selective mutism is not a common disorder, making it very difficult to both diagnose and treat effectively. Theories of selective mutismWhen the search for self...... half of the document ......inclined to speak (Busse & Downey, 2011). This is a practice that is emerging in the typical classroom with the integration of technology. A parent can send a video of the child speaking at home or completing a presentation, then the teacher can show it in class. While it may seem good for the student to see themselves being verbal in class and feel comfortable with this idea, it can also make them more anxious and embarrassed. Teachers and parents should be cautious before implementing this strategy as it may cause the student to retreat further into their nonverbal comfort zone. Researchers warn that several selectively mute children are unwilling to be videotaped. In some cases, listening to audio recordings of oneself actually increases the child's anxiety about speaking, making this intervention unsuitable for a segment of the population.