Selective Mutism: Neurological Problem Or Learned Behavior

Selective Mutism: Neurological Problem or learned Behavior
Introduction
As professionals of education, it is normal to deal with different conditions that affect children.
Many of these conditions are caused by neurological problems, emotional problems, cognitive disabilities such as autism, attention deficit, bipolar and some others. All these topics are very interesting. In particular whatcaptures my attention is selective mutism.
 Having had personal experience observing a case of selective mutism on three sisters of the same family, create in me the question; Is learned behavior possible factor that causes selective mutism? 
This is what my research proposal is about. Is very interesting what I found in the diverse information sources reviewed to develop this topic.

ProblemSelective Mutism disorder can be caused by learned behavior?
Purpose of the study
The purpose of this research is to gather genuine information that helps in the study of selective mutism disorder, in order to make easier to create new techniques for effective therapy.

Review of the literature
All information for this study was obtained through the internet websites. Several articles whichdefines what is selective mutism, discussed many cases of children with this disability. You will see which effective techniques used in these cases.
Selective mutism refers to a child's selective silence speaks freely only in very familiar situations. Children who have this problem only speak comfortably very close members of his family; however, any person present  the child is quietand shy. Some children avoid eye contact and do not communicate in any way with others. These children avoid doing gestures or facial expressions, Gallagher, R. Ph.D. (2010).
Dr. Richard Gallagher in his article, Selective Mutism Silent Profile defines selective mutism as a disorder that presents certain population of school age children.
These children show a wide variationin their social relations. Although some have fun sharing with colleagues, maintain complete silence. Some of these children have a friend who plays his gesture, others simply do not participate in activities to feel uncomfortable.
Selective mutism requires careful attention because of its impact on the child’s life. Behavior therapy and medication is a combination treatment used for this disorder. With the publication of casecontrol study designs with appropriate scientist, mental health professionals now have a pattern of treatment for selective mutism.
 According to Dr. Elisa Shiphon Blum, specialist in SM., in the article “Why Abby don’t Talk”. The selective mutism is caused by extreme social phobia and an anxiety disorder. "It is a fear that can literally make it impossible to speak," She also says that SM ismore common in girls and is believed to have a strong genetic component. About 70% of kids with SM have an immediate family member who also struggles with social anxiety.
Dr. Bruce Black, a psychiatrist in Wellesley, Mass., who conducted some of the first empirical studies on SM in the early 1990s. Until about 15 years ago, children were routinely considered to have "elective mutism," whichsuggests the silence is willful and controlling. "It was seen as a power struggle that manifested as a refusal to speak," says Black. "Now it is characterized as a failure to speak."
According to Richard Gallagher PhD, author of: Is My Child Just Quiet or Could It Be a Disorder? Some infants and children have an inhibited to respond to novel situations and thus new social situations. As infants,inhibited children tend to stay away from people situations and unfamiliar toys. Physical reactions of these children show increased heart rate and changes in activity suggest that brain perceive new situations as a source of danger.
The studies found that about 8% of young children have an inhibited reaction to novelty. Long term these children shows that many of them remain inhibited...