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• INTRODUCTION INTO SELECTIVE MUTISM

  45-57

  Veronika Schéder

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  Parents, teachers, and often even experts (including psychologists and therapists) are baffled by a mysterious communicative disorder, which is defined by relevant literature as “selective mutism.” Children living with this disorder refuse to speak to anyone (especially in kindergarten and in school), in spite of the fact that their vocal development is unharmed and they communicate with their parents and other family members normally at home. This disorder may not cause problems in kindergarten but all the more so in school. Pedagogues lack any tools for the special treatment of non-speaking children, in order to help them overcome their communicative barriers, and this raises several obstacles in the teaching process. In this paper, the reasons leading to selective mutism are discussed besides the question of whether, in cognizance of the background knowledge, supporting experts (including teachers) can if at all, cooperate successfully in bridging and resolving symptoms.