Mobile application for sensory deprivation of neurodiverse children during dental treatment

Abstract

Relevance. Dental care for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) requires modification of the conventional treatment setting, which includes many sensory stimuli that influence the behaviour of these children. However, it is not possible to eliminate all dental treatment stimuli from clinical practice. The development of a new method for digital priming of neurodiverse patients was facilitated by the need to mitigate unavoidable dental treatment stimuli to achieve sensory deprivation, expressed as reduced anxiety and improved cooperation.The study aimed to investigate the level of cooperation and anxiety in children with ASD before and during dental treatment using a developed mobile application.Material and Methods. Forty-three children aged 7 and 12 years old with con-firmed ASD of varying severity participated in the study. The cooperation and anxiety level in children with ASD were assessed according to the Larry L. Venham clinical anxiety rating scale before and during treatment using the mobile application.Results. During dental treatment, the children with mild/moderate autism showed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in their anxiety level and improvement of the cooperativeness profile, which indicates a positive effect of the developed mobile application on the level of anxiety and cooperation.Conclusion. Further research is necessary to evaluate similar information and communication technology types as a part of significant approaches to sensory deprivation, behaviour improvement, and dental treatment outcomes in vulnerable children.