My son was selectively mute at age 3. Spent a four day weekend with my parents who he knew and loved and who loved and spoiled him and didn't say a word the whole weekend while they babysat him. They did activities, played, ate, swam and he didn't say boo.
He spent a year in an ESE preschool and had one utterance the entire year ...I think it was something like "she (meaning the teacher) said get in line". The next year, same teacher, some of the same kids, some new kids and he was fine. Quiet sometimes, chatty other.
He is in high school now. He speaks when needed but is mostly quiet in class. Texting is terrific for helping his social life. He has friends. He is slow to warm up but has been in new situations his whole life.
