Questionnaire Survey on the Prevalence of and Support for Selective Mutism at High School in Akita Prefecture

Abstract

This study aims to identify the prevalence of selective mutism (SM) in high school students and the level of support provided to them. We sent a questionnaire by post to 52 high schools in Akita Prefecture, Japan. The questionnaire asked if they had students who showed symptoms of SM, and, if so, to describe the type of support provided at the school for these students. Thirty-nine schools responded, reporting that 0.11% of their students showed symptoms of SM. Additionally, the schools reported they were providing student support focused on speech difficulties. The results found that the prevalence of students with SM symptoms in high school was similar to that in elementary and middle schools. Moreover, the results identified the need not only for support focused on speech but also the need to adapt the students’ environment to help alleviate their anxieties