Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

[Mutism in children].

J Grippo1, M F Vergel, H Comar

  • 1División de Neurología, Hospital de Niños Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina. grippo@fibertel.com.ar

Revista De Neurologia
|April 20, 2001
PubMed
Summary

Mutism, the absence of speech, has varied causes including emotional distress, post-viral complications, and head trauma. Early identification and intervention are key for recovery in affected children.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Aromatic retinoid Acid-derivatives are potent inducers of differentiation of neuroblastoma-cells - structure-function relationship and the involvement of the nuclear retinoic Acid receptors.

International journal of oncology·2011
Same author

A comprehensive hepatitis C viral kinetic model explaining cure.

Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics·2010
Same author

The effects of glaucoma on the latency of the multifocal visual evoked potential.

The British journal of ophthalmology·2006
Same author

[Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: fulminant form].

Revista de neurologia·2003
Same author

[Spinal cord injury without evidence of lesion in an hemophilic child].

Revista de neurologia·2002
Same author

[Behçet's disease in children: cortical calcifications].

Revista de neurologia·2002

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

  • Mutism is characterized by the absence of verbal expression while language comprehension remains intact.
  • The etiology of mutism is multifactorial, encompassing conditions such as cranial trauma, posterior fossa surgery, epilepsy syndromes, and psychogenic factors.

Observation:

  • Three pediatric cases of mutism were analyzed, each with a distinct underlying cause.
  • Case 1: A child with emotional and behavioral issues, attention deficits, and limited communication, showing normal neurological and EEG results.
  • Case 2: A 4-year-old girl experiencing post-varicella mutism with preserved language capacity but absent verbal communication, recovering within 72 hours.
  • Case 3: A 12-year-old boy with post-traumatic mutism following head injury, exhibiting behavioral changes, disorientation, and SPECT-identified hypoperfusion, with full recovery in 20 days.

Findings:

  • Mutism can manifest following emotional disturbances, viral infections like varicella, and traumatic brain injuries.
  • Neurological examinations may be normal in some cases of mutism, necessitating a comprehensive diagnostic approach.
  • SPECT imaging can reveal underlying cerebral blood flow abnormalities, such as hypoperfusion in the orbitotemporal region, in post-traumatic mutism.

Implications:

  • This study highlights the diverse etiologies of mutism in children, emphasizing the need for individualized treatment strategies.
  • Understanding the multifactorial nature of mutism is crucial for effective diagnosis and management in pediatric populations.
  • Early recognition and appropriate interventions, including psychotherapy and addressing underlying medical conditions, can lead to favorable outcomes in children with mutism.

Related Experiment Videos