Muteness

Muteness
Jan Jansz. de Stomme, a deaf-mute 17th century Dutch Golden Age portrait painter.
Specialty	Neurology, psychiatry

In human development, muteness or mutism^[1] is defined as an absence of speech, with or without an ability to hear the speech of others.^[2] Mutism is typically understood as a person's inability to speak, and commonly observed by their family members, caregivers, teachers, doctors or speech and language pathologists. It may not be a permanent condition, as muteness can be caused or manifest due to several different phenomena, such as physiological injury, illness, medical side effects, psychological trauma, developmental disorders, or neurological disorders.^[3] A specific physical disability or communication disorder can be more easily diagnosed. Loss of previously normal speech (aphasia) can be due to accidents, disease, or surgical complication; it is rarely for psychological reasons.

Treatment or management also varies by cause and this can often determined after a speech assessment.^[4] Treatment can sometimes restore speech. If not, a range of assistive and augmentative communication devices are available.