The Tribune

By Dr Andre Clarke The fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2012. It was adopted in perpetuity by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 2007. This year's World Autism Awareness Day is intended to be an awareness raising and a fundraising day and will seek to encourage early diagnosis and intervention. The impact of autism on the lives of children in all regions of the world cannot be ignored. Their journey in dealing with developmental challenges cannot be overshadowed. Will you be celebrating the lives of persons with autism; all those that live around the world? "Light It Up Blue" is a unique global initiative to help raise awareness about the growing public health concern of autism. It is in its third year and is the brain child of 'Autism Speaks' (an American based advocacy group). Iconic landmarks around the world will be lit blue to show solidarity. The Bahamas will be a part of the "Light It Up Blue" 2012 campaign. Join 'Autism Speaks' this year and help shine a light on autism. It must be remembered, that persons with autism have no particular distinguishing physical feature, but may appear indifferent and unable to form emotional bonds. Epilepsy may develop in about 30 percent of the persons in the Autism Spectrum Disorder. They often avoid eye contact; appear deaf; act unaware of the comings and goings of others; prefer unchanging environments and practice repetitive actions (e.g. hand-flapping and rocking). Their caregivers often give sweet foods as rewards and this may lead to poor oral hygiene. Anecdotally, the risk for dental cavities and periodontal (gum and supporting structures) disease increases with such a practice. The use of stringent oral hygiene practices will be needed to avoid this, but are often times difficult as many persons with autism have aversions to mouth cleaning techniques. For this reason, an especially patient caregiver is required. A caregiver may often times need to use pictures to explain oral hygiene instructions before performing them. Of note, many persons with autism show signs of bruxism (non-functional grinding, clenching, and rubbing of teeth); bite foreign objects (resulting in traumatic mouth injuries) and indulge in self-aggression (very often damaging the mouth). Convulsions may also be a factor in mouth injuries in the autistic community. This is why persons with autism need a good oral healthcare professional. Persons with autism have a right, like any other, to receive good dental care. A very empathetic dentist with a patient approach is mandatory. It is very important that in the Bahamas dental healthcare professionals seek to improve the access of dental care to persons with autism. There must be training in the homes and in the schools of persons with autism. The use of visual aids (pictures and instruments) and simulation of dental procedures must become the standard of care. Prudent dental officers should consider creating a dental visit schedule, which ensures that the patient with autism is not kept waiting and has short quiet visits. The same dental staff should be used repeatedly and a step by step process followed at each visit. All of this will assist in creating a routine. Additionally, routine visits showing well-behaved patients with autism can be converted to pictures or DVDs for the patient to take home. It is also advisable, that a familiar family member or caregiver is present at all dental visits. Please contact your dental healthcare provider about autism and its mouth impact. Oral healthcare is for everyone. This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended and may not be treated as, a substitute for professional medical/dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or dental professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical/dental condition. Never disregard professional medical/dental advice or delay in seeking it because of a purely informational publication. If you have questions, please send email to dr_andreclarke@hotmail.com.