Originally Posted by Missy

Well I don't know a whole lot about it except for through my nephew. In his case, yes, he chooses when and with whom he will speak. He still wasn't talking by the age of 4, and had been taken to multiple doctors... until one day my sister (his mom) happened to overhear him while he was playing in his room alone, talking like a normal 4 year old. He just wouldn't talk to anybody or when anybody was around. And the whole time they had thought he was mute.

He has made a lot of improvement over the years, but still to this day, he won't speak a word in school (not even to his teacher... he writes notes to them as his communication) or when anybody he doesn't know is around him. If absolutely necessary, he will whisper in somebody's ear. He won't even talk at a family gathering if my grandparents are in the room, even though they've been part of his life since he was born.

But get him in a room with somebody he likes and is totally comfortable with... he doesn't shut up. He's actually really intelligent and has a great sense of humor, so it's a shame that some other peole in his life don't get a chance to see that side of him.