A Selective Mutism Arising from First Language Attrition, Successfully Treated with Paroxetine-CBT Combination Treatment.
After immersion in a foreign language, speakers often have difficulty retrieving native-language words and may experience a decrease in its proficiency, this phenomenon, in the non-pathological form, is known as first language attrition. Self-perception of this low native-language proficiency and apprehension occurring when speaking is expected and, may sometimes lead these people to a state of social anxiety and, in extreme forms, can involve the withholding of speech as a primitive tool for self-protection, linking them to selective mutism. We report an unusual case of selective mutism arising from first language attrition in an Italian girl after attending a two-year "German language school", who successfully responded to a paroxetine-cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) combination treatment.
Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, ENT Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Agostino
A
Serra
Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, ENT Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Paola
P
Di Mauro
Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, ENT Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Claudio
C
Andaloro
Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, ENT Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Luigi
L
Maiolino
Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency "Costanza Gravina", University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Piero
P
Pavone
Department of Medical Surgical Specialties, ENT Clinic, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Cocuzza
Anxiety; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Language attrition; Paroxetine; Selective mutism