Oral care and sensory sensitivities in children with autism spectrum disorders |
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| Authors: | Leah I. Stein MA OTR/L José C. Polido DDS MS Zoe Mailloux MA OTR/L FAOTA Gina G. Coleman MA OTR/L Sharon A. Cermak Ed.D. OTR FAOTA |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Doctoral Student, Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California;2. Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, Head‐–Division of Dentistry, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, and Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California;3. Executive Director of Administration and Research, Pediatric Therapy Network, Torrance, California;4. Executive Director of Practice and Education, Pediatric Therapy Network, Torrance, California;5. Professor of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. |
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| Abstract: | Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are at high risk for oral disease. The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of sensory processing problems to challenges in receiving oral care for children with ASD. A questionnaire was sent to the parents of 206 children with disabilities to test the hypotheses that children with ASD, relative to children with other disabilities, experience greater difficulty with home‐based and professional oral care, and that these difficulties may relate in part to sensory processing problems. The results partially supported these hypotheses. Compared to children with other disabilities, those with ASD had greater behavioral difficulties and sensory sensitivities that parents believed interfered with their child’s oral care. Among children with ASD, sensory sensitivities were associated with oral care difficulties in the home and dental office, and with behavioral difficulties in the dental office. Utilizing strategies to modify the sensory environment may help facilitate oral care in children with ASD. |
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| Keywords: | ASD sensory processing dental care behavior difficulties sensory integration occupational therapy |
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