I looked up symptoms of emotional shock, but losing the ability to speak wasn't listed, but I'm not going to count it out especially since it did happen in canon. And a child that young might just be freaked enough to stop speaking. (I'm trying to stay close to while making key changes here and there.)
My question is this: Would they take the child to the hospital for some sort of treatment? And, if they did, how long would he be kept if at all? Under what circumstances would he be allowed to return home to his brother? How would the medical staff deal with him? Some of the treatments I came upon were home remedy stuff like herbal teas and essential oils. Nice to know, sure, but not very dramatic, you know?
If it makes any difference, the story takes place around 1997 in the US, specifically, Los Angeles.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
