Oral habits of patients aged 7–15 years with autism spectrum disorders at the Dominican Autism Foundation between January and May 2025.
Description
Autism spectrum disorder encompasses a range of neurodevelopmental disabilities that affect social interaction and communication and are characterized by repetitive or limited patterns. It is therefore essential to understand its biological, psychological, and social characteristics, as well as its stomatognathic system, in order to implement a behavioral plan tailored to each individual who attends the clinic. The objective of this study was to identify oral habits in children aged 7 to 15 years with autism spectrum disorder who attend the National Autism Foundation. A total population of 70 children was considered for this research. A 21-question questionnaire was administered regarding their oral health, oral habits, and clinical history. The results were then tabulated and statistically analyzed. The results showed that the most prominent oral habit was bruxism, and that children with ASD tend to have non-functional oral habits throughout their lives, hence the importance of understanding their psychological, social, emotional, and physiological needs. With regard to the parents' perception, 100% knowledge was observed, corresponding to a high level, with most being involved in the well- being of their family members with ASD. In conclusion, the relationship with parents or guardians is essential for the implementation of the follow-up and treatment that a child with ASD needs.
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Steps to reproduce
Upon selecting patients, whether parents or guardians of those wishing to participate, they were given an informed consent form. This form was explained in detail, step by step, to inform them about the research and obtain their approval to participate. The form must be signed for validation. The form was conducted by students Clara Díaz and Denifer Ramírez, supervised by the president of the foundation, who gave us permission to collect the necessary data. For this study, we chose an instrument that has been validated in other research in Spanish-speaking Latin America and was appropriate for our country. It is a questionnaire with appropriate questions to facilitate the achievement of our objectives. It consists of 18 questions, including the following items: general history, personal information, respiratory, oral, and physical aspects (14 questions), and 7 questions regarding parents' perceptions. To conduct the study, the patients were observed clinically, including their lips, fingers, facial features, and dental anatomy to determine the presence of oral habits such as nail biting. This was observed in fingernails, whether deformed or in good condition, as well as facial features such as dark circles and flattened cheekbones. Infant bite patterns and calloused fingers were also used to diagnose oral habits in children. Bruxism was identified through incisal and occlusal wear. The questionnaire contains 18 questions addressed to parents of children aged seven to 15 years, regarding oral habits present in children with ASD. The questions were completed by selecting the answer that contains the letter they deemed appropriate or the answer they agreed with. This is intended to ensure that there are no grammatical or misunderstanding errors, and if this were the case, the appropriate modifications could be made before data collection. After collecting the data, the results were classified and tabulated using statistical software for a more detailed understanding. This provided answers to the study's intended objectives.
Institutions
- Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena