Saturday October 11, 2025 | Is selective mutism neurodivergent?

Autism.  I didn't know what it was back in junior high school.  I was looking at the other 

kids on the bus going home and was trying to put my finger on what is it that was wrong with them and that I wanted to help them so badly but I didn't know how. But now I wasn't staring at them.   When I was watching FatheringAutism's YouTube videos, I finally understood what they might have 

had or have.  Some do have severe autism like Abby in FatheringAutism's YouTube 

video.  It finally had a name.  It was autism.  I wanted so badly to help those kids who 

had autism.  

Below is what I found.  I just don't know if this is true because everything I find on the internet is a lie.  

Selective mutism is a neurodivergent condition inthat it describes a brain that processes information differently, though it is not a neurodevelopmental disorder like autism. It is considered an anxiety-based condition and is often experienced by autistic individuals or those with other neurodivergent traits, leading to situations where a person is unable to speak in certain settings despite being able to speak in others.  

Understanding Neurodivergence 

• Definition: 

  Neurodivergence describes individuals whose brains differ from what is considered the "typical" or neurotypical norm in how they process information.
• Spectrum: 

  Neurodiversity includes conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, which involve 
• variations in brain function and processing.

Selective Mutism and Neurodivergence

• Anxiety-Based: 

  Selective mutism (SM) is primarily an anxiety disorder where a person cannot 
• speak in certain social situations, but can in others. 
• Overlap with Neurodivergent Conditions: 

  Many neurodivergent people, especially those 
• who are autistic, experience selective mutism. 
• Different Presentations: 

  The presentation of SM can be fluid and linked to factors such 
• as anxiety, stress, changes in routine, or sensory discomfort. 
• Internalized Experience: 

  The inability to speak can be an internalized response, 
• sometimes misunderstood as quietness or compliance, and can occur even in autistic adults. 
• Sensory Overload: 

  Some individuals with selective mutism also have sensory processing 
• issues, making them easily overwhelmed in noisy environments. 

Important Distinction 

• While many neurodivergent individuals can experience selective mutism, SM is not itself a neurodevelopmental difference. It is an anxiety disorder that can co-occur with 
• neurodevelopmental differences.