noun, Psychiatry. 1. an inability to speak, due to a physical defect, conscious refusal, or psychogenic inhibition. Origin of mutism.
1 A new study finds girls are developing breasts earlier than ever before; American boys and girls are entering puberty about five years younger than they did in 1920.
In the 1990âs, when the U.S. study was conducted, the average age of an American girlsâ first menstruation is similar to what it was a generation ago: 12.1 years old for African Americans and 12.8 for white girls. The average age for beginning menarche dropped 3.5 months from 1991 to 2006 for the Danish girls.