Strategies for Treating Children With Autism

More than 700,000 children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Approximately one in 68 children have ASD,¹ making autism the most common developmental disorder in the United States. Autism is a spectrum disorder, with affected individuals displaying a variety of symptoms and severity.² The most recent definition for ASD published in the American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual states that impairment in social communication and restricted/repetitive interests and behaviors are the hallmarks of ASD (Table 1).³ Approximately 70% of children with autism have some speech ability, with more than 20% attaining fluency.⁴ Similarly, although most children with ASD continue living at home in adulthood, roughly one in 10 may grow up to live and work on their own (Table 2).^1,5,6

With such a high prevalence rate, dental professionals will most likely encounter patients with autism during their career.² Children with autism are at great risk for oral health problems, as up to 15% are not receiving dental care.^7,8 This is partially because unusual behaviors and heightened sensory sensitivities can make receiving care difficult. Communication irregularities can also interfere in clinical interactions. Although these barriers can pose a challenge, treating children with ASD can be a manageable and enjoyable part of dental practice.

PREPARING FOR THE FIRST VISIT

For a child with autism, the dental visit can be overwhelming. Dental chairs that change positions, bright overhead lights, shiny instruments, and facial contact can seem scary and unusual. Not knowing how the child will react can be very stressful for parents/caregivers. In fact, it is not unusual for parents/caregivers to simply avoid taking their child to the dentist because they are worried the experience will be negative or they have already had a failure at other medical and dental offices.⁹

Practitioners can work with parents/care­givers to make the first visit pleasant. The parent/caregiver and child should not feel pressured to accomplish treatment on the initial visit. Rather, the first visit should provide an opportunity for the child to see the office and meet the staff. In many cases, when the child returns for subsequent visits, the fear of the unknown will be greatly diminished.

Likewise, the provider should take this opportunity to learn as much as possible about the patient. A previsit questionnaire is a simple way to quickly learn about the patient (Table 3). This gives parents/caregivers a chance to provide helpful information such as the child’s use and understanding of language, strengths and interests, and possible behavioral triggers. Including a section about the child’s previous history with dental treatment is also important. This will allow the team to use approaches that have proven successful for the child and avoid stressors that could stimulate the fight or flight response. The previsit questionnaire also allows parents/caregivers to voice their concerns and provide the clinician with information they think will be helpful.¹⁰ Nobody knows the child better than his or her parents/caregivers. As such, parents/caregivers can be very effective in interpreting the unique behaviors of their child.

When working with children who have ASD, it can be easy to focus on their limitations. Instead, try to capitalize on their strengths. For example, if a child is very visual, providing photos or a video of the office beforehand can be helpful (Table 3).¹¹ These types of preparation aids are referred to as social stories, visual schedules, or storyboards.^12,13 When creating a preparation aid, the child’s preferred media format should be considered. Some children will respond best if the aid is displayed on a tablet computer, while others might do better with a printed version. Some families develop preparation aids on their own, but it can be helpful to develop an office-specific aid that can be hosted on the practice’s website.

Many children with autism do better with established routines.¹⁴ Preparing at home helps children develop a dental routine that can be followed when they arrive at the office. Providing the family with a practice dental kit that may include exam gloves, gauze, and a plastic dental mirror is an effective strategy to facilitate this routine and increase compliance with the dental examination. Parents/caregivers should first establish a routine of brushing at home. Once established, the dental mirror can be introduced during this routine. Children then become accustomed to having items other than the toothbrush placed in their mouths. When they arrive at the dental office, parents/caregivers can demonstrate the home brushing technique and how they used the dental mirror. It is then much easier for the clinician to replicate the same toothbrushing technique and mirror examination.

ACCOMMODATING THE CHILD

Making accommodations to put the child at ease sets the stage for success. Families should be asked to bring the child’s favorite comfort objects to dental visits. Parents/caregivers might also consider bringing another adult who the child loves and trusts. Another adult can be helpful in keeping the child occupied, listening to information from the provider, or simply lending moral support.

Bringing additional help can be particularly useful if the child arrives early and needs to wait for an extended time. While every attempt should be made to seat the child on time, this is not always possible in a busy practice.¹⁵ It is important to determine the best location to wait. Some children will easily find ways to entertain themselves in a reception area, but others may be more at ease waiting in their car or taking a walk outside. Consideration should also be given to the examination area. Many children will do best, particularly for the initial visits, if they are scheduled in a private room.

Some patients will adapt easily to the dental routine, becoming comfortable with the office and dental team within the first few visits. Research indicates that up to half of children might fall into this category.^16–20 Others may not accept dental care as readily. These children may benefit from applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy, which focuses on reinforcing desired behaviors and modifying undesirable ones, and desensitization.^21,22 Many children with ASD are already enrolled in these types of therapies. Clinicians should ask parents/caregivers about strategies that have been successful in the past so clinicians know what rewards will be most effective and how often skills might be practiced.²³ While a customized approach works best, the following type of program may work well for many patients:

• First visit: Meet and greet the dental staff. Review previsit questionnaire with parents/caregivers, discuss preparation aids, and provide practice exam kit. Attempt to have the child sit in a dental chair and take a photograph that can be viewed at home.
• Second visit: Child may sit in the dental chair while the parent demonstrates brushing technique and the use of the dental mirror. Provider then replicates parent technique.
• Third and subsequent visits: Repeat skills learned at last visit, while adding new skills.

It is important to introduce a new item or skill and then pause to give the child time to digest what has happened. In most circumstances, it is best to begin slowly and wait for the child to decide whether he or she will allow the next step. One technique is to first use an object like a dental mirror to count the clinician’s own gloved fingers. The child is then asked to have his or her fingers counted. Once the child is comfortable with the counting routine, the object can be moved to his or her lips or open mouth for the same count. Soon, the clinician has established a rapport with the patient and he or she has learned a new skill. It is extremely helpful to maintain the routine for all visits, including using the same order of procedures, the same operatory, and the same staff.

Children who are profoundly impaired or who cannot regularly make office visits may need advanced behavior guidance such as protective stabilization, sedation, or general anesthesia to provide care. If an office does not provide these services, a referral to a specialist or hospital-/university-based program is best.

For children with ASD, cooperation is often facilitated by clinicians who establish a calm energy and move at a steady pace. Using short simple sentences allows the child to absorb key messages. It is also important to avoid sarcasm, metaphor, and jargon, as patients with ASD tend to be very literal.²⁴ For example, telling the patient to “hop up in the seat” may lead to bouncing in the dental chair. Perhaps most important is the clinician’s ability to be creative and maintain a sense of humor.

Children with autism may have sensory processing differences. If so, determining whether the child is a hyporesponder who seeks sensory input or a hyperresponder who avoids sensory input is helpful.²⁵ Children who seek sensory input can be accommodated by applying deep pressure with a weighted blanket or X-ray vest, allowing the patient to view dental procedures using a hand-held mirror, and encouraging the child to squeeze toys during the visit. Children who avoid sensory input can be supported by minimizing noises, using unscented and unflavored products, placing dark glasses over the eyes to block out light, and reclining the dental chair in advance to minimize motion.^14,26,27

MAINTAINING ORAL HEALTH

Regular oral surveillance is critical to maintaining the dental health of children with autism. Otherwise, caries can go undocumented and unchecked, causing pain that children may be unable to communicate to parents/caregivers. In turn, pain can contribute to negative behaviors, difficulty sleeping, and learning problems.^28,29 These risks are minimized by establishing a routine of professional examination and preventive treatment.

Children with ASD have poorer oral hygiene than their peers, which may be complicated by sensory sensitivity experienced when brushing.^30,31 Dental hygienists can encourage good brushing habits by asking a few important questions:

• Has the family tried both power and manual toothbrushes? Some children respond favorably to vibrations from power brushes, while others find these quite disconcerting. A multi-angled toothbrush can be helpful when parents/caregivers have limited time to brush.
• Does the child have a difficult time with the flavor of toothpaste? If so, different toothpastes should be tried to see if there is a flavor that is not bothersome. Alternatively, parents/caregivers can dip the brush in a fluoride mouthrinse. This won’t provide the same preventive effects as toothpaste, but it is better than not receiving any topical fluoride exposure at all.
• Does the child like numbers or timers? Brushing can sometimes be facilitated by using a timer. A standard hourglass or egg timer may work well for some children, while others might prefer a digital version. Novel toothbrush apps are also available.
• Does the child like music? Some toothbrushes play 2 minutes of music to motivate the child to brush for the appropriate amount of time.
• Does the child use visual schedules? If so, cards or visual schedules can be created for toothbrushing (Table 3).
• Where does the family usually brush the child’s teeth? For children who do not want to use the bathroom, brushing their teeth in the family room, while lying on the ground, or even in their beds may be more successful.

Clinicians should also inquire about the child’s diet. Children with ASD may eat only a small number of preferred foods (certain tastes, textures, or colors) or follow a restricted diet (gluten-free/casein-free diet). This may mean that the child is frequently consuming foods that are damaging to teeth. While it is unlikely that the child’s preferences will be easily altered, parents/caregivers can be encouraged to limit the frequency of snacks. Another challenge arises when the child is receiving food rewards, such as candy, during behavioral therapy. Therapy typically lasts for several hours each day, and rewarding positive be­ha­vior with sweets raises caries risk. Food is a powerful primary reinforcer, and it can be challenging to break away from this habit. In situations where this is not feasible, sugar-free candies are a viable alternative. Given the increased prevalence and availability of technology, allowing screen time on a tablet computer may be an alternative to food-based rewards for some children.

CONCLUSION

Providing dental care for children with ASD can be both a challenging and rewarding experience. By taking the time to work with families, oral health professionals not only provide needed dental services, but also contribute to the child’s ability to receive dental care and achieve a lifetime of good oral health.

REFERENCES

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From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. October 2015;13(10):61–64.