Muteness

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD medical weight loss NYC and sleep center NYC

Muteness
Synonyms	Mutism
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Inability to speak
Complications	Social isolation, Communication disorder
Onset	Can be congenital or acquired
Duration	Chronic
Types	N/A
Causes	Neurological disorder, Psychological disorder, Physical trauma
Risks	Developmental disorder, Brain injury, Psychological trauma
Diagnosis	Speech assessment, Neurological examination
Differential diagnosis	Aphasia, Dysarthria, Selective mutism
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Speech therapy, Psychotherapy, Assistive technology
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Varies depending on cause and treatment
Frequency	Rare
Deaths	N/A

Trumpet_mutes_collection

Muteness or speechlessness is an inability to speak because of a speech disorder or physical impairment. The term originates from the Latin mutus, meaning "silent".

Causes

Muteness can be caused by several factors, including:

• Congenital disorders: Some people are born mute due to genetic disorders or complications during pregnancy or childbirth.
• Physical injuries: Injuries to the brain, throat, or vocal cords can result in muteness.
• Psychological factors: Some people may become mute as a result of severe emotional trauma or stress.
• Diseases: Certain diseases, such as laryngeal cancer or motor neuron disease, can cause muteness.
• Surgical procedures: Some surgical procedures, particularly those involving the throat or vocal cords, can result in muteness.

Treatment

Treatment for muteness depends on the underlying cause. It may include:

• Speech and language therapy: This can help improve speech and communication skills.
• Surgical procedures: In some cases, surgery may be required to treat the underlying cause of muteness.
• Psychological therapies: These can help address any emotional or psychological factors contributing to muteness.
• Assistive devices: These can help people who are mute communicate more effectively.

See also

• Aphasia
• Dysarthria
• Speech disorder
• Speech-language pathology

External links

• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

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