It is classified as an anxiety disorder, but it comes with an extra twist of cruelty. It had rendered the two young children featured in the film entirely mute at school. Yet what, predictably, was the result of being silenced by anxiety? Still more anxiety, a desperation to be able to speak so complete that speech became impossible.

Both Madeleine and Robert could speak perfectly well at home. As her mother said of the little girl just starting primary school: "She doesn't really stop talking." Yet, try as they might, these bright, brave children could not exchange a word with their classmates.

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