Elective mutism associated with selective inactivity.

In this short case report, elective mutism was only one aspect of a young boy's general pattern of selective non-responding. Behavior management procedures were successfully applied to his inactive nonverbal behavior, as well as his infrequent speech. Nonverbal responses were the easiest to train because they could be physically prompted if he did not respond on his own. Several of the successful treatment techniques were being employed by the mother prior to any intervention.