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 United States, almost all children show some signs of puberty by age 13 in girls and 14 in boys, and it is at these ages that the greatest amount of pubertal change in the body will usually occur. The average age for the beginning stages of puberty is 10.5 years in girls and 11.5 years in boys.