This morning, Amy Robach of Weekend TODAY brought us the story of Jacob Hanna, a 7-year-old who suffers from a disorder known as selective mutism.
Basically, Jacob is a regular, chatty kid at home, but in public settings, including at school, he is too anxious to speak. WATCH VIDEO
For example, his teachers have never heard him speak. Doctors say selective mutism is usually a social disorder that occurs in about one percent of children.
It's certainly an interesting story and a disorder that not many of us here had previously heard of. If you'd like to read more about Jacob, check out the feature on him in People.
Do you know a kid who suffers from selective mutism? Did he or she eventually emerge from it? And if so, how long did it take? What advice can you give to parents and teachers of kids with this disorder? Feel free to let us know in our comments section below.