Four year old recently stopped talking.

I'm posting on here to see if anyone has had a similar situation or could offer some advice. My son has been nothing but a dream child since he was born. He's smart, active, friendly and fearless. Has never been shy, always friendly and outgoing. About a week ago, he decided to stop talking for a few hours. He just didn't want to talk, we took him out shopping he didn't talk the entire time we were gone, came home and a little while later he began talking again. This was a Sunday. The following Friday he stopped talking again at home to everyone. He won't say anything to anyone, not me his mother, his grandpa and grandma who we live with or children. This is a child who would introduce himself to complete strangers. We even took him to a wedding the Saturday after he stopped talking and still nothing.

I took him to the pediatrician who said he had never seen this before. That he is friendly willing to go off with the doctor and leave me in the room, but won't talk. He will nod his head and answer with uh huh and uh uh. He also seems to be saying words with his mouth shut. I even had him singing with his mouth shut/humming the abc's. He has said a few words over these four days, but it seems like they are on accident. As soon as he speaks he covers his mouth and hides or runs out of the room.

A family friend who deals with autistic children and does therapy has suggested that he has selective mutism. I was curious if anyone has had a similar experience and could offer any advice or support.

Thanks in advance.

Hi, it sounds like he may have selective mutism. It can just start suddenly. My parents tell me I was a normal child like you describe until they brought me to preschool. I cried so much they had to take me out of the school. In prekindergarten I never said anything. Is there a psychologist you could take him to, to get a diagnosis? Play therapy helped me when I was a kid.

His pediatrician is talking to a child psychiatrist to see if she has had any similar cases, and see if she can get him in as soon as possible. I'm hoping for the best.