Given that your English is not your son’s native language (and not the primary language spoken at home), I think it would be a little premature to assume that there is an underlying neurological or psychological problem. If you are living the United States, since he is over three years-old you may request an initial Core Evaluation to determine if there are any indications of special needs through your local school district. Regardless of where you live, you might also want to check with your son’s pediatrician for his or her opinion on the matter. Your description seems to indicate that except for the lack of communication with peers, your son’s behavior is otherwise pretty typical. I recommend you stay in contact with your son’s teachers and doctor to make sure his development continues to progress. Perhaps they might recommend additional “non-pressure” experiences (play groups, social groups, etc.) for your son with other English speaking children to help foster his English language skills.
Thank you doctor. Your opinion is helpful and I appreciate your time. My son's doctor suggested that we can go to the child pyschology to have him evaluated and I surely will work with his teachers to monitor his development continues to progress. Thanks.
Thanks for your info. I did search for selective mutism symptoms and some behaviors fit and some don't. I am still not sure if he is.
one of the experts said selective mutism should not be diagnosed if the individual’s failure to speak is due solely to a lack of knowledge of, or comfort with, the spoken language required. And my son does not speak fluent English. I am hoping that he will get better when he knows more English.
Search on the web for "selective mutism", an anxiety disorder, to see if this might fit your child's behaviors.