{"h1":"ICD-11 Classification of Selective Mutism (6B06)","faq":[{"a":"Selective Mutism is classified under code 6B06 in the ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (ICD-11-MMS).","q":"What is the ICD-11 code for Selective Mutism?"},{"a":"It is grouped under Anxiety or fear-related disorders, reflecting the understanding of selective mutism as anxiety-driven rather than a primary speech or behavioural disorder.","q":"Where does Selective Mutism sit within ICD-11?"},{"a":"The selectivity in speaking should persist for at least one month, not counting the first month of school, and must not be attributable to limited knowledge of the required spoken language.","q":"How long must symptoms persist for the diagnosis?"},{"a":"In selective mutism, communication is fluent in familiar settings and the silence is situation-bound; in autism spectrum disorder the social-communication differences are pervasive across settings. The diagnosis is not made if the pattern is better explained by ASD.","q":"How does ICD-11 distinguish selective mutism from autism?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-selective-mutism","title":"What is the ICD-11 classification for Selective Mutism?","entity":{"key":"selective-mutism","kind":"condition","name":"Selective Mutism","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Doctor","value":"doctor"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Emotional","value":"emotional"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Definition","value":"definition"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Speech-Therapy","value":"speech-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-selective-mutism-and-what-does-it-look-like-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Selective Mutism in Early Childhood?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-selective-mutism-in-early-childhood","title":"Contributing Factors for Selective Mutism"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-selective-mutism","title":"What is Selective Mutism?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-early-indicators-of-selective-mutism-should-a-paediatrician-watch-for","title":"Early Indicators of Selective Mutism for Paediatricians"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-snomed-ct-concept-for-selective-mutism","title":"SNOMED CT Concept for Selective Mutism"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-selective-mutism-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Selective Mutism, and what are its ICD-11 features in early childhood?"}],"summary":"In ICD-11-MMS, Selective Mutism is coded 6B06 and classified within Anxiety or fear-related disorders — reframing it as an anxiety-driven condition marked by consistent failure to speak in specific social settings despite normal speech elsewhere.","answer_md":"*When a child speaks freely at home yet falls silent at school, the right code anchors the right care pathway.*\n\n## In short\nIn the **ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (ICD-11-MMS)**, Selective Mutism is classified under code **6B06**. It sits within the grouping of **Anxiety or fear-related disorders**, reflecting the contemporary understanding of selective mutism as anxiety-driven rather than a primary disorder of speech or oppositionality. The defining feature is a consistent failure to speak in specific social situations where speech is expected (typically school), despite speaking normally in other settings.\n\n## The classification, briefly\nUnder ICD-11, **6B06 Selective mutism** is characterised by a marked, persistent selectivity in speaking — fluent expressive language in familiar contexts (usually the home) contrasted with consistent silence in defined social situations. For the diagnosis to hold, the disturbance should persist for at least one month (beyond the first month of school), is not attributable to a lack of knowledge of the spoken language required, and is not better accounted for by a communication disorder, an autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia or another condition. Its placement among anxiety or fear-related disorders is the substantive shift from earlier nosology, which had located it among disorders with onset in childhood. This reframing is clinically meaningful: it directs assessment toward the child's social anxiety profile and away from interpreting silence as defiance or a speech impairment.\n\n## Clinical note\nDifferentiate from a transient adjustment reaction (e.g. the first weeks at a new school or post-migration silent period), from a primary speech-language disorder, and from autism spectrum disorder where the communication pattern is pervasive rather than situation-bound. Co-occurring social anxiety is common and warrants direct enquiry. Hearing should be confirmed intact.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nA clinical AbilityScore® and any formal diagnosis are established only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from a code lookup or an online form. Coding orients the pathway; structured clinician assessment determines it. Explore our [speech and language therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) pathway, understand [how the AbilityScore is formed](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), or [begin with us](/).\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics — Selective mutism (6B06), within Anxiety or fear-related disorders.\n\n**Next step —** For a child showing situation-specific silence, refer for a structured developmental and anxiety assessment at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-selective-mutism","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-selective-mutism","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-icd-11-classification-for-selective-mutism-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Selective Mutism ICD-11 Code 6B06","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"For a clinician: code as 6B06 only after confirming the silence is situation-bound, persistent beyond one month, and not better explained by ASD, a communication disorder or limited language knowledge.","published_at":"2026-06-10T10:52:00.07543+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-selective-mutism-and-what-are-its-icd-11-features-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Selective Mutism, and what are its ICD-11 features in early childhood?","reason":"Linked from this 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mutism (6B06)"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T10:52:00.07543+00:00","meta_description":"Selective Mutism is classified under ICD-11-MMS code 6B06, within Anxiety or fear-related disorders — a clinician's guide to its definition and placement.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}