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.
Breast development is the earliest sign of true puberty and may occur in healthy white girls as early as age 7 and even earlier in African American girls. Girls with normal early menarche (age 10) will grow an average of 4 inches more. Boys who are distressed by pubertal delay may be treated with low doses of testosterone to accelerate growth and pubertal development without affecting their final height.