Child refuses to speak, but will communicate with facial expressions?

I know a little girl who never speaks to anyone but her mother but even then scarcely.





you can ask her questions like , can you read?, and she will bob her head in denial..she will hang around you, and hide.





girl is around 6 or 7





I think ive known this kid for about a year, and ive heard her voice only a couple times, and then it was in the background talking to her mother.





Is this a disorder?Child refuses to speak, but will communicate with facial expressions?
It is certainly not normal for a 6 or 7 year old to be mute. Perhaps she is shy around company? Does she speak normally when she's alone with her mother?





If the mother is concerned, she has the legal right (in the US) to request a trained Speech Pathologist to evaluate her through the public school system. If she is having these issues at school, chances are her teachers have noticed, and perhaps they will refer her for an evaluation as well. It is completely free, and if the child needs services indicated by the evaluation results, the school district will provide services free of charge as well.Child refuses to speak, but will communicate with facial expressions?
It's may be selective mutism, which can be caused by a childhood anxiety disorder. However, some children are just shy and quiet and introverted naturally without it being an anxiety disorder. If you are very concerned, you might have to bring it up with someone trained in diagnosis.
she may just be shy,


when she gets home she may be a chatter box but in front of people she is scared to talk and associate with people


but then it very well might also be a disorder.


I would find out from the mother exactly what she is like at home before jumping to any conclusions.
no its shy and stubborn. tell the mother to make her use her words. like if she wants a cookie make her say it.
Could be shyness. It also could be a form of autism.