In this study of 68 children displaying elective mutism, four types of mutism are distinguished: (a) symbiotic mutism, characterized by a symbiotic relationship with a caretaker and a submissive but manipulative relationship with others; (b) speech phobic mutism, characterized by fear of hearing one’s own voice and use of ritualistic behaviors; (c) reactive mutism, characterized by withdrawal a...

Akinetic mutism is described in various clinical presentations but typically is defined as a state wherein the patient appears awake but does not move or speak. It can be divided into two different subtypes; the most common subtypes depend on the lesion location, mesencephalic-diencephalic region, also called apathetic akinetic mutism (somnolent mutism), and those involving the anterior cingula...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Akinetic mutism is thought to be an appropriate therapeutic end-point in patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). However, prognostic factors for akinetic mutism are unclear and clinical signs or symptoms that precede this condition have not been defined. The goal of this study was to identify prognostic factors for akinetic mutism and to clarify the order...

Mutism and neurobehaviour symptoms are well known features, which may occur following surgical excision of mass lesion of various histopathologies in the posterior cranial fossa, during the postoperative period. Mutism may be rarely associated with ataxia of eyelid closure and paresis of external ocular muscles. However, internuclear ophthalmoparesis is not reported in association with mutism f...

Mutism and neurobehaviour symptoms are well known features, which may occur following surgical excision of mass lesion of various histopathologies in the posterior cranial fossa, during the postoperative period. Mutism may be rarely associated with ataxia of eyelid closure and paresis of external ocular muscles. However, internuclear ophthalmoparesis is not reported in association with mutism f...

Mutism, defined as an inability or unwillingness to speak, resulting in an absence or marked paucity of verbal output, is a common clinical symptom seen in psychiatric as well as neurology outpatient department. It rarely presents as an isolated disability and often occurs in association with other disturbances in behavior, thought processes, affect, or level of consciousness. It is often a foc...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of group therapy for children with selective mutism and their parents. METHOD Five children (mean age 6.1 years) with a diagnosis of selective mutism were administered group therapy over an 8-week period. Parents simultaneously attended a second group, aimed at providing education and advice on managing selective mutism in everyday situa...

Broca's aphasia may manifest as mutism in some patients. Mutism may be misinterpreted as part of a depressive illness in patients with a psychiatric history. We report on a patient presenting with acute mutism who had a history of amphetamine and cannabis abuse and was later found to have sustained an infarct of the dorsolateral frontal cortex. Recognition of this mode of presentation will aid ...

AIM Cerebellar mutism is a documented complication of posterior fossa surgery in pediatric ages. Risk factors such as the type of tumor, size, and location of tumor, hyrdrocephalus, postoperative cerebellar swelling for cerebellar mutism were investigated in this study. MATERIAL AND METHODS A consecutive series of 32 children with a cerebellar tumor were operated on at the Haseki Educational ...