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Toothbrushing training programme using an iPad® for children and adolescents with autism

  • Original Scientific Article
  • Published:
European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

To improve the oral health of children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by using an iPad®-based training programme.

Methods

Fifty-two children and teenagers with ASD (aged 3–19 years) educated in schools or in care centres participated in this cohort study and followed for 8 months. A training programme for teaching toothbrushing behaviours was proposed to the educational staff. Quotation grids enabled assessment of the programme’s efficacy.

Results

Showed an improvement in toothbrushing. The children’s autonomy increased and oral care was more easily implemented when steps were taken by the caregivers. Wilcoxon analysis showed significant improvement in each variable related to toothbrushing.

Conclusions

The iPad® is an attractive and easy device for people with ASD to use. Its use in a training programme for teaching toothbrushing behaviours was efficient.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the International Foundation of Applied Disability Research (FIRAH). We would like to express our gratitude to the çATED-autisme team. The authors would like to thank children, parents and professionals who participated to the “çATED pour tes dents” programme.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, 1 place Alexis Ricordeau, 44042, Nantes Cedex 1, France

    S. Lopez Cazaux & A. Rouches

  2. Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Nantes, 1 Place Alexis-Ricordeau, 44093, Nantes Cedex 1, France

    S. Lopez Cazaux

  3. Centre de Recherche en Education de Nantes, EA2661, Chemin de la Censive du Tertre, BP 81227, 44312, Nantes Cedex 3, France

    S. Lopez Cazaux, G. Lefer & P. Bourdon

  4. Chemin de Launay Violette, Ecole Supérieure du Professorat et de l’Education, 44300, Nantes, France

    G. Lefer & P. Bourdon

Authors
  1. S. Lopez Cazaux
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  2. G. Lefer
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  3. A. Rouches
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  4. P. Bourdon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Lopez Cazaux.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

For this study, written informed consent was obtained from all parents of children and adolescents included in the study.

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Lopez Cazaux, S., Lefer, G., Rouches, A. et al. Toothbrushing training programme using an iPad® for children and adolescents with autism. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 20, 277–284 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-018-0396-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-018-0396-y

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