Belle* is six years old. Like many children, she is a playful and often boisterous child at home with her family. Unlike many children, she has an anxiety disorder which renders her speechless and ...

Mother Joanna Stephenson (middle) has started a petition calling for more support for children with selective mutism, signed by hundreds of parents Parents say they are "angry" and "frustrated" that ...

Joanna Stephenson is the creator of a fast‑growing petition, calling for the introduction of a ‘clear pathway for selective mutism’ and to ‘improve recognition of anxiety’ in autistic children. The ...

Eating behaviors and early feeding patterns shape gut bacteria in children with autism. Targeted diets and probiotics may help remodel microbial communities linked to intestinal inflammation. Study: ...

Chelsea Jenkins and her family. When Chelsea Jenkins' 4-year-old daughter, Ava, was diagnosed with selective mutism in January 2026, the 33-year-old mother of four immediately began searching for ...