Did you know? Selective mutism is one potential cause of loss of speech in people with Down syndrome.
Selective mutism is a condition in which a person with verbal communication skills does not speak in particular settings. It is "selective" because it does not occur in all settings. For example, an individual may not speak at school but will speak at home. Selective mutism is often linked to social anxiety. People with Down syndrome can experience a loss of speech for other reasons as well. Brian Chicoine, MD discusses other potential causes in this Selective Mutism and Other Causes of Loss of Speech in People with Down Syndrome article.