Comparative evaluation of the effect of Snoezelen Distraction Technique on children with Autism and healthy children during dental treatment

Abstract

Aim

To compare the effect of Snoezelen distraction technique (SDT) on children with Autism disorder and healthy uncooperative children during dental treatment.

Method

ology: 17 children diagnosed with Autism (Group 1) and 17 uncooperative healthy children (Group 2) requiring dental treatment were considered for the study. The study comprised of two appointments during which physiological and behavioural parameters were recorded. First appointment, dental treatment was done without any distraction and the second appointment with Snoezelen distraction technique (SDT).

Results

In Group 1, there was a statistically significant decrease in mean pulse rate (p < 0.01), mean respiratory rate (p < 0.05) and decrease in the negative behaviour frequencies (p < 0.01) from first to second appointment. In Group 2, there was a statistically significant decrease in the mean pulse rate, respiratory rate values (p < 0.01) and decrease in the negative behaviour (p < 0.05) frequencies from first to second appointment. On comparative evaluation, there was a statistically significant difference seen for the values between the groups (p < 0.05) for the change in respiratory rate with higher values in Group 1. In Appointment 2 there was a statistically significant difference seen in the frequencies between the groups for behaviour (p < 0.01) with a higher frequency for negative behaviour in Group 2 and definitively positive in Group 1.

Conclusion

In children with Autism and healthy uncooperative children there was a significant change in both physiological and behavioural parameters on using SDT. The changes in these parameters were statistically higher in children with Autism.