How often words and phrases related to selective mutism are searched for?
[English]
selective mutism : 71.0/day
mutism : 17.0/day
elective mutism : 8.0/day
selective mutism in child : 5.0/day
selective mutism therapy : 1.7/day
[German]
mutismus : 4.3/day
selektiver mutismus : 2.7/day
mutismus fallbeispiel : 1.4/day
mutismus schule fallbeispiel : 0.6/day
mutismus de : 0.3/day
musiktherapie mutismus : 0.3/day
mutismus therapie : 0.3/day
behandlung mutismus : 0.3/day
[Japanese]
緘黙 : 123.4/day
場面緘黙 : 42.8/day
場面緘黙症 : 29.1/day
緘黙症 : 28.5/day
選択性緘黙 : 8.7/day
(Data from Wordtracker, retrieved August 31, 2006)
(I'm sorry if the above characters are garbled)
I was surprised. There are so many Japanese Internet users who search for the words and phrases related to selective mutism.
According to comScore World Metrix, online populations in Japan are estimated about 52.1 million (March 2006.) On the other hand, US are 152.0 million, UK are 30.2 million. Germany are 31.8 million.
This data suggests that there can be so many demands for information about selective mutism in Japan, compared with in other countries. But Japanese information is poorer than US, UK and Germany. Strong support group, like Selective Mutism Group Inc, Selective Mutism Foundation, Selective Mutism Information and Research Association and Mutismus Selbsthilfe Deutschland e. V., doesn't exist.
Some Japanese think the reason why the support for selective mutism in Japan is poor is that there are few demands. But I doubt it.
Index of SM in Japan
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
1st-3rd grade (1)
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 1 Before I Became Selectively Mute (5)
1st-3rd grade (1)
* * * * * * * * * *
[Shy Child]
I was a shy child, and had few friends. Being physically weak, I wasn't good at sports. I was sometimes bullied by fellow pupils.
[Bright Side]
Soon after I entered the school, I encountered many difficulties, as I wrote earlier. But the worst was over. I gradually adjusted myself to the new environment. The bright side appeared.
I worried about my extremely poor arithmetic ability. So, I asked my parents to buy a drill in arithmetic. I solved many problems over and over again. In class I listened to my homeroom teacher's explanations seriously, and didn't forget to do my homework. Thanks to the constant effort, I got to be able to follow the class.
When I was a junior student, I gave full play to my abilities in art class. In the 1st grade, I draw animal pictures and that was awarded gold prize. In the 2nd grade, I made a mask of middle-aged man and that was awarded "Kowaide-shou" (the Fearful Mask Prize.)
I also gave full play to my abilities in playing recorder in music class. I played many compositions well which are difficult to play for junior students, such as "Edelweiss" or "Fuji-san" (Mount Fuji.)
And I got to be familiar with insect, because I read the insect book well which my parents bought for me. I was called "Doctor of Insect" by classmates and was slightly admired.
Even so, I was sometimes bullied.
(To be continued)
Chapter 1 Before I Became Selectively Mute (5)
1st-3rd grade (1)
* * * * * * * * * *
[Shy Child]
I was a shy child, and had few friends. Being physically weak, I wasn't good at sports. I was sometimes bullied by fellow pupils.
[Bright Side]
Soon after I entered the school, I encountered many difficulties, as I wrote earlier. But the worst was over. I gradually adjusted myself to the new environment. The bright side appeared.
I worried about my extremely poor arithmetic ability. So, I asked my parents to buy a drill in arithmetic. I solved many problems over and over again. In class I listened to my homeroom teacher's explanations seriously, and didn't forget to do my homework. Thanks to the constant effort, I got to be able to follow the class.
When I was a junior student, I gave full play to my abilities in art class. In the 1st grade, I draw animal pictures and that was awarded gold prize. In the 2nd grade, I made a mask of middle-aged man and that was awarded "Kowaide-shou" (the Fearful Mask Prize.)
I also gave full play to my abilities in playing recorder in music class. I played many compositions well which are difficult to play for junior students, such as "Edelweiss" or "Fuji-san" (Mount Fuji.)
And I got to be familiar with insect, because I read the insect book well which my parents bought for me. I was called "Doctor of Insect" by classmates and was slightly admired.
Even so, I was sometimes bullied.
(To be continued)
Friday, August 25, 2006
Loser School Child
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 1 Before I Became Selectively Mute (4)
Loser School Child
* * * * * * * * * *
After I graduated from kindergarten, I entered into a neighborhood public elementary school.
By the time I enrolled the school, I broke myself of my annoying habit of wetting my pants outside, though I was still in diaper when I went to bed.
In the school I found many children who I had gotten acquainted with in kindergarten. My anxiety about interpersonal relationships slightly declined.
Although I didn't suffer from selective mutism in the school, I encountered other difficulties again.
[Extremely Physically Weak]
Elementary school is different from kindergarten. School teachers evaluates children.
I was appalled in PE lesson to become aware that I was extremely physically weak. Whatever race I had, I finished second to last! The last boy was Mr. U who had handicap. As the PE lesson is provided for both sexes, I lost even to girls.
[I was Bullied]
Being weak, I was bullied by children, including girls.
[Too Stupid]
What is worse is that I was too stupid.
I had a humiliating experience when I learned addition in a math class.
Even children who just entered elementary school knew "one and one is two." But, for example, "two and three is five" was difficult to understand. Many classmates calculated hard with their fingers and thumbs.
Ms. A, my homeroom teacher, repeated, "I won't teach children subtraction until all children get to be able to do add without their fingers and thumbs." She had an uncompromising belief that she will not make any children in her homeroom drop out.
So, she taught addition carefully to children who said they couldn't understand it well. She taught with zeal, especially to Mr. U who had handicap.
At last, Mr. U got to be able to do add without using his fingers and thumbs. At that moment, she said, "Everyone gets to be able to do add without using your fingers and thumbs! Now I'll teach you subtraction!!"
But she wasn't aware that there was still one child who didn't master addition. The child was ... me. She, a teaching professional, couldn't imagine such slow child existed.
[Loser School Child]
When I entered elementary school, I was aware that I was a severe loser child. I wondered why such differences existed between children.
(To be continued)
Chapter 1 Before I Became Selectively Mute (4)
Loser School Child
* * * * * * * * * *
After I graduated from kindergarten, I entered into a neighborhood public elementary school.
By the time I enrolled the school, I broke myself of my annoying habit of wetting my pants outside, though I was still in diaper when I went to bed.
In the school I found many children who I had gotten acquainted with in kindergarten. My anxiety about interpersonal relationships slightly declined.
Although I didn't suffer from selective mutism in the school, I encountered other difficulties again.
[Extremely Physically Weak]
Elementary school is different from kindergarten. School teachers evaluates children.
I was appalled in PE lesson to become aware that I was extremely physically weak. Whatever race I had, I finished second to last! The last boy was Mr. U who had handicap. As the PE lesson is provided for both sexes, I lost even to girls.
[I was Bullied]
Being weak, I was bullied by children, including girls.
[Too Stupid]
What is worse is that I was too stupid.
I had a humiliating experience when I learned addition in a math class.
Even children who just entered elementary school knew "one and one is two." But, for example, "two and three is five" was difficult to understand. Many classmates calculated hard with their fingers and thumbs.
Ms. A, my homeroom teacher, repeated, "I won't teach children subtraction until all children get to be able to do add without their fingers and thumbs." She had an uncompromising belief that she will not make any children in her homeroom drop out.
So, she taught addition carefully to children who said they couldn't understand it well. She taught with zeal, especially to Mr. U who had handicap.
At last, Mr. U got to be able to do add without using his fingers and thumbs. At that moment, she said, "Everyone gets to be able to do add without using your fingers and thumbs! Now I'll teach you subtraction!!"
But she wasn't aware that there was still one child who didn't master addition. The child was ... me. She, a teaching professional, couldn't imagine such slow child existed.
[Loser School Child]
When I entered elementary school, I was aware that I was a severe loser child. I wondered why such differences existed between children.
(To be continued)
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Selective Mutism in the World
場面緘黙症 (Japanese)
선택적 함묵증 (Korean)
选择性缄默症 (Simplified Chinese)
избирательный мутизм (Russian)
selectief mutisme (Dutch)
mutisme sélectif (French)
selektiver Mutismus (German)
selektiivinen mutismi (Finnish)
selective mutism (English)
(I'm sorry if the above characteres are garbled)
I tried to read websites about selective mutism in various languages, except for English and Japanese, through Excite translator (Japanese) and Babelfish translator.
Here are some findings:
[There Are Not So Much Differences in Explanation of Selective Mutism among Countries]
It may be natural, because symptoms of mental disorder in general are not so much different among countries.
[Little Information, Little Communities]
There are little information about selectivfe mutism. In many countries no books on selective mutism are published.
Some websites ' explanations are translation from English. I think no other countries' websites have more information about selective mutism than English speaking countries' ones.
The number of communities, such as forums, BBSes, etc. is also limited.
[Many Books on Selective Mutism in German]
But Germany is exceptional. The self-help group "Mutismus Selbsthilfe Deutschland eV" and its web site exists. In addition, many German books on selective mutism are published.
* Boris Hartmann. Gesichter des Schweigens - die systemische Mutismus-Therapie. SYMUT als Therapiealternative (Faces of Silence - Systemic Therapy of Mutism. SYMUT as Therapy Alternative)
* Boris Hartmann. Mutismus im Kindes-, Jugend- und Erwachsenenalter (Mutism in Child, Youth and Adult Age )
* Nitza Katz-Bernstein. Selektiver Mutismus bei Kindern. Erscheinungsbilder, Diagnostik, Therapie (Selective Mutism with Children. Appearances, Diagnostics, Therapy)
* Otto Dobslaff. Mutismus in der Schule. Erscheinung und Therapie (Mutism in School. Appearnce and Therapy)
* Reiner Bahr. Wenn Kinder schweigen. Redehemmungen verstehen und behandeln. Ein Praxisbuch (If Children are Silent. Understainding and Treating Speech Inhibitions. A Practice Book)
* Reiner Bahr. Schweigende Kinder verstehen. Kommunikation und Bewaeltigung beim selektiven Mutismus (Understainding Silent Children. Communication and Overcoming Selective Mutism)
* Boris Hartmann. Mutismus. Zur Theorie und Kasuistik des totalen und elektiven Mutismus (Mutism. The Theory and Case Reports of the Total and Elektive Mutism)
English names are translated by me, though I'm not good at German.
[Japanese Trend?]
I can find many Japanese websites (including blogs) managed by mothers who have selectively mute children. Websites written by people who suffered or suffer selective mutism also popular.
But from what I found, this is only Japanese trend.
선택적 함묵증 (Korean)
选择性缄默症 (Simplified Chinese)
избирательный мутизм (Russian)
selectief mutisme (Dutch)
mutisme sélectif (French)
selektiver Mutismus (German)
selektiivinen mutismi (Finnish)
selective mutism (English)
(I'm sorry if the above characteres are garbled)
I tried to read websites about selective mutism in various languages, except for English and Japanese, through Excite translator (Japanese) and Babelfish translator.
Here are some findings:
[There Are Not So Much Differences in Explanation of Selective Mutism among Countries]
It may be natural, because symptoms of mental disorder in general are not so much different among countries.
[Little Information, Little Communities]
There are little information about selectivfe mutism. In many countries no books on selective mutism are published.
Some websites ' explanations are translation from English. I think no other countries' websites have more information about selective mutism than English speaking countries' ones.
The number of communities, such as forums, BBSes, etc. is also limited.
[Many Books on Selective Mutism in German]
But Germany is exceptional. The self-help group "Mutismus Selbsthilfe Deutschland eV" and its web site exists. In addition, many German books on selective mutism are published.
* Boris Hartmann. Gesichter des Schweigens - die systemische Mutismus-Therapie. SYMUT als Therapiealternative (Faces of Silence - Systemic Therapy of Mutism. SYMUT as Therapy Alternative)
* Boris Hartmann. Mutismus im Kindes-, Jugend- und Erwachsenenalter (Mutism in Child, Youth and Adult Age )
* Nitza Katz-Bernstein. Selektiver Mutismus bei Kindern. Erscheinungsbilder, Diagnostik, Therapie (Selective Mutism with Children. Appearances, Diagnostics, Therapy)
* Otto Dobslaff. Mutismus in der Schule. Erscheinung und Therapie (Mutism in School. Appearnce and Therapy)
* Reiner Bahr. Wenn Kinder schweigen. Redehemmungen verstehen und behandeln. Ein Praxisbuch (If Children are Silent. Understainding and Treating Speech Inhibitions. A Practice Book)
* Reiner Bahr. Schweigende Kinder verstehen. Kommunikation und Bewaeltigung beim selektiven Mutismus (Understainding Silent Children. Communication and Overcoming Selective Mutism)
* Boris Hartmann. Mutismus. Zur Theorie und Kasuistik des totalen und elektiven Mutismus (Mutism. The Theory and Case Reports of the Total and Elektive Mutism)
English names are translated by me, though I'm not good at German.
[Japanese Trend?]
I can find many Japanese websites (including blogs) managed by mothers who have selectively mute children. Websites written by people who suffered or suffer selective mutism also popular.
But from what I found, this is only Japanese trend.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Loser Child
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 1 Before I Became Selectively Mute (3)
Loser Child
* * * * * * * * * *
[ Loser Child ]
What was worse was that I was extremely dull, slow and clumsy. Whatever I did, I was at the bottom of the class I belonged to.
All classmates clearly seemed to be cleverer, smarter, and more intelligent than me. I had an inferiority complex. I wondered why such differences existed between classmates.
[Wetted My Pants!]
What is worse is that I sometimes wetted my pants in the kindergarten! Whenever I had an accident, I loudly cried and that bothered my teacher.
There were few children who wetted their pants there. We were 5 year old children, not 2 or 3 years old. But I did many times over.
[Terrible!]
Of course, there are differences between children to some extent. Some children are bright, others are dull. But I was dull in the extreme.
I think I may have been mentally retarded. As I wrote, I couldn't utter a word until I was 3 years old.
I felt anxious about my future although I was only a child.
(To be continued)
Chapter 1 Before I Became Selectively Mute (3)
Loser Child
* * * * * * * * * *
[ Loser Child ]
What was worse was that I was extremely dull, slow and clumsy. Whatever I did, I was at the bottom of the class I belonged to.
All classmates clearly seemed to be cleverer, smarter, and more intelligent than me. I had an inferiority complex. I wondered why such differences existed between classmates.
[Wetted My Pants!]
What is worse is that I sometimes wetted my pants in the kindergarten! Whenever I had an accident, I loudly cried and that bothered my teacher.
There were few children who wetted their pants there. We were 5 year old children, not 2 or 3 years old. But I did many times over.
[Terrible!]
Of course, there are differences between children to some extent. Some children are bright, others are dull. But I was dull in the extreme.
I think I may have been mentally retarded. As I wrote, I couldn't utter a word until I was 3 years old.
I felt anxious about my future although I was only a child.
(To be continued)
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Entering Kindergarten
* * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 1 Before I Became Selectively Mute (2)
Entering Kindergarten
* * * * * * * * * *
I entered kindergarten when I was 5 years old.
It is well known that in most cases the selectively mute children's problems happen when they enter kindergarten or elementary school. But my problem had not begun until I was the fourth grade.
Although I didn't suffer from selective mutism in kindergarten, I encountered other difficulties.
[Entering Kindergarten]
I enrolled a neighborhood kindergarten. Although some kindergartens accepted 3-4 years old children, the one recruited only 5 years old.
I was unable to adapt to the new environment. I suppose everyone more or less faced difficulties when they enter kindergarten. But my experience was terrible.
[I was Isolated]
As I wrote before, there was an apartment complex behind my house. I found that many children in the kindergarten lived in the apartment complex and they already attach to each other. But I wasn't. I was isolated.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 1 Before I Became Selectively Mute (2)
Entering Kindergarten
* * * * * * * * * *
I entered kindergarten when I was 5 years old.
It is well known that in most cases the selectively mute children's problems happen when they enter kindergarten or elementary school. But my problem had not begun until I was the fourth grade.
Although I didn't suffer from selective mutism in kindergarten, I encountered other difficulties.
[Entering Kindergarten]
I enrolled a neighborhood kindergarten. Although some kindergartens accepted 3-4 years old children, the one recruited only 5 years old.
I was unable to adapt to the new environment. I suppose everyone more or less faced difficulties when they enter kindergarten. But my experience was terrible.
[I was Isolated]
As I wrote before, there was an apartment complex behind my house. I found that many children in the kindergarten lived in the apartment complex and they already attach to each other. But I wasn't. I was isolated.
(To be continued.)
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