Special Needs Children Flashcards
what are the four different types of disability?
- physical
- sensory
- medical
- mental
what are examples of physical disabilities you may see in children?
- spina bifida
- muscular dystrophy
what are examples of medical disabilities you may see in children?
cardiac defects/oncology
what are examples of sensory disabilities you may see in children?
- blind
- deaf
- ASD (autism spectrum disorder)
what are examples of mental disabilities you may see in children?
- impaired learning ability
- ASD (autism spectrum disorder)
what is an example of a communication aid for a patient with visual impairment?
Braille
what is an example of a communication aid for a patient with hearing impairment?
- BSL interpreting service
- hearing loops
what is an example of a communication aid for a patient with ASD impairment?
- Makaton
- Boardmaker pictures
- Widget symbols
what is the definition of a learning disability?
“A state of arrested or incomplete development of mind” (WHO)
what would the IQ classification be for a patient with a mild learning disability?
50-70
what would the IQ classification be for a patient with a moderate learning disability?
35-49
what would the IQ classification be for a patient with a severe learning disability?
20-34
what would the IQ classification be for a patient with a profound learning disability?
<20
What is Autism?
Lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder (spectrum disorder)
- difficulty with social interaction
- difficulty with social communication
- limited & restricted patterns in behaviour
what are some related conditions to autism spectrum disorder?
- ADHD
- Down syndrome
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- Learning disability
patients with autism spectrum disorder may dislike certain aspects of the dental surgery, what are examples of these?
- dental light
- noise (drills etc)
- smells
- textures
- tastes
how might you prepare before seeing a paediatric patient with autism spectrum disorder?
- obtain a profile of likes & dislikes from parent/school
- send out social story explaining dental journey using PECS
- send out plastic mirror
- de-clutter & be ready and on time
what are some dental features of down syndrome?
- maxillary hypoplasia
- class III occlusion
- macroglossia
- anterior open bite
- hypodontia/macrodontia
- predisposition to perio disease
what medical problems are down syndrome patients predisposed to?
- cardiac defect
- leukaemia
- epilepsy
- alzheimer’s/dementia
what are the different examination options for patients with disabilities such as down syndrome or autism?
- knee to knee
- on parents lap
- in wheelchair
- standing up
- sitting/lying on floor
what are some recommended toothpastes for patients with autism or special additional needs?
- OraNurse Toothpaste (contains fluoride, no flavour, non foaming)
- Duraphat 2800ppm (high caries risk children aged 10+)
in which patients should conscious sedation be avoided?
- those undergoing Bleomycin therapy
- those with musculo-skeletal disorders
what are the aims when using general anaesthesia for dental treatment?
- atraumatic anaesthetic induction (oral midazolam)
- complete comprehensive dental treatment
- eliminate pain and infection
- establish a basis for continued preventative care
What are the risk factors for having a child with down syndrome?
Children born to older mothers.
What conditions might a child with down syndrome have?
Intellectual disability
Facial features
Cardiac defects
Impaired immunity
Sleep apnoea
GERD
What extra-oral features may be present in a child with down syndrome?
Maxillary hypoplasia with a flat nasal bridge.
This leads to a class III, small sinuses, small nasal airway, and mouth breathing.
What intra oral features may a child with down syndrome have?
High arched palate - food trapping and halitosis
Enlarged tonsils - gag reflex
Fissured tongue - candida infections
Macroglossia - speech and access issues
What dental features may be present in a patient with down syndrome have?
Hypodontia and microdontia - restorative problems
Small conical roots - periodontal risk
Enamel defects - plaque retention and restorative
Delayed eruption - maintaining dentition
AoB - mouth breathing
