No abstract

In the present study, mental health problems occurred in adults with ID at similar frequencies as in previous studies. Adults with ID who experienced mental health problems tended to receive less psychological therapy than the general Japanese population experiencing such problems. This result may indicate poor provision of psychological services for people with intellectual disabilities in Japan.

Several studies have been conducted on the prevalence of selective mutism. However, the subjects and methods di er between these studies, and no uni ed perspective has been achieved. e purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic investigation by school type and grade level of children with selective mutism enrolled in kindergarten, elementary school, and lower secondary school in Japan and to evaluate the prevalence of selective mutism. e overall enrollment rate for children with selective mutism, in a total of 73 public kindergartens and elementary and lower secondary schools was found to be 0.21%, with more female than male students (male-tofemale ratio=1 : 2.1). e enrollment rate by school type was the highest for kindergarten (0.66%) and slightly decreased for the higher stages of education. e percentage of schools where any children with selective mutism were enrolled (called the school enrollment rate) was 39.7% for all schools and gradually increased from kindergarten to lower secondary school (at 46.7%). In this study, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fi h Edition diagnostic criteria for selective mutism were employed, and schoolteachers determined selective mutism based on the criteria. e school enrollment rate obtained in this study supports the results of other studies and provides new insights into selective mutism. e limitations of this study include an insucient number of samples and a failure to ensure adequate interpretive skill on the part of the respondents.

No abstract

In the present case study, ball-throwing skills were taught to a boy with Asperger's disorder, and secondary benefits for him from that experience were examined. The teaching program was based on applied behavior analysis. After a task analysis that divided overhand ball-throwing behavior into 10 behavior units, training utilized visual stimulus prompts and a chaining procedure, in a changing criterion design. The results showed that, although it took some time to achieve, all the behavior items were learned, so that the boy acquired skills necessary for ball throwing, The present study cenfirms the effectiveness of prompts using picture cards and behavioral coaching. It was diflicult to maintain the boy's motivatien for the prolonged training, although verbal interaction may be effbctive to increase motivation. Sccondary effects observed included increased social intcraction and a more proactive attitude towards exercise, behaviors that wcre net goals of the teaching program. Such eflects may indicate potential benefits of the acquisitien of sports skills as one component of leisure activities of children with deveiopmental disorders.