Welcome to the website of the Selective Mutism Clinic, in Sydney, Australia.  The clinic provides assessment and treatment for preschool and school-aged children with selective mutism and extreme shyness. The clinic is also affiliated with Dr Elizabeth Woodcock & Associates, Clinical Psychologists, which provides general psychological services for children and adults.

Selective mutism (previously called elective mutism) is a condition where children are able to talk comfortably in some situations such as at home or around familiar relatives, but are not able to use their voice in other situations such as school or with less familiar people. Selective mutism is commonly viewed as a form of social anxiety where the child fears that people will hear their voice and then judge them in a negative way.  

Selective mutism is usually noticeable around three years of age, however the condition is often not diagnosed until late primary school.  The delayed referrals of children to appropriate services is often due to the perception that the child will 'grow out of it' and eventually start talking. However, this is often not the case, as improvements tend to occur very slowly (if at all) if it is left untreated. Preschool workers, early childhood carers, and speech therapists play a key role in early detection of the condition and in ensuring that steps are taken before the mutism becomes firmly established.

In the past ten years or so, the recognition that selective mutism is a form of social anxiety has led to the development of effective treatment programmes, such as cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT).  CBT programmes aim to gradually expose the child to anxiety-provoking social situations and assist them to build up nonverbal, and later verbal communication.