Oral Structural and Functional Problems in Children With Autism

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Chewing Problem; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Drooling

• Registration Number: NCT06355141
• Lead Sponsor: Hacettepe University

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine oral structural and functional problems in children with autism.

Detailed Description

In this descriptive study, children with autism will be screened for oral structural and functional problems. In this context, observational evaluation will be made. The presence of tongue thrust reflex, chewing performance and salivation control in children will be examined.Within the scope of the research, demographic data, parameters related to the oral motor development stage (time to transition to solid food and solid food, time to first teething) will be recorded according to parental report. Oral structural evaluation, including open mouth, high palate, oral hygiene and malocclusion, will be made observationally and recorded as present/absent. Within the scope of oral functional evaluation, tongue thrust reflex, chewing function and salivation control (dooling) will be evaluated.

The questions the investigators will test for this purpors; Q1:What oral structural and functional problems are seen in children with autism? Q2:What is the frequency of oral structural and functional problems seen in children with autism?

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2024-03-09
• Status Verified: 2024-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-04-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-04-03
• Study First Posted: 2024-04-09
• Last Update Posted: 2024-04-09
• Study Start: 2024-04-11
• Primary Completion: 2024-05-13
• Study Completion: 2024-08-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 90

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosed with autism,
• Not having any additional diagnosis other than autism,
• Age between 5-15 yers

Exclusion Criteria

• Not being able to receive the commands required to obtain working data.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Demographic Information Form	1 month	Descriptive information will be recorded.
Oral structural assessment	1 month	Oral structural evaluation, including open mouth, high-arched palate, oral hygiene and malocclusion, will be made observationally and recorded as present/absent. Evaluation of malocclusion will be made observationally while at rest. It will be recorded as normal, over jet, open bite, deep bite and cross bite present/absent.
Time to achieve Oromotor skills	1 month	Parameters related to oromotor skills (transition time to additional food and solid food, initial teething time) were recorded based on a parental report.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Drooling of saliva evaluation	1 month	Drooling frequency and sverity scale (DFSS) will be used. Drooling severity is scored between 1 and 5. It is scored as 1 meaning no saliva and dry, and 5 meaning continuous flow to the body and objects. Frequency is scored between 1 and 4. 1 means no drooling, 4 means constantly drooling.
Chewing evaluation	1 month	Chewing function will be evaluated with the "Mastication Function Observation and Evaluation Tool (MOE, The Mastication Observation and Evaluation)". This tool includes an objective assessment of the chewing process in children. The child is monitored while eating a standard biscuit, and the observer scores the child's chewing skills based on 8 parameters. This assessment tool evaluates tongue movements, jaw movements, chewing time, food/saliva overflow, swallowing and coordination during chewing.
Tongue thrust evaluation	1 month	The presence and severity of the tongue thrust will be evaluated with the Tongue ThrustRating Scale (TTRS). It evaluates the tongue thrust between 0 and 3 points. While 0 indicates that there is no tongue reflex, 3 indicates that the tongue is positioned outside the mouth, that is, a severe tongue thrust.