Mutism and non-verbal communication in an autistic child

Abstract

One studies, through two interviews, the forms of non-verbal communication in
a twelve year old autistic child with total mutism.
This work consists of a clinical story, of the interviews which were effected, the interpretation of same and conclusions.
Taking into account the clinical story, the content and result of the interviews and the working hypothesis suggested by these, one formulates the methodology which was used and one interprets Fabien’s silence and mutism.
The mutism is due to two fundamental causes: the first one is represented by the omnipotent dangerousness he attributes to words; the second is the denial of external reality in order to preserve the magic world he has created.