Relationship between lip position and drooling in children with cerebral palsy

Authors:

ABSTRACT

Aim

This was to determine whether there is any relationship between lip position and drooling in children with cerebral palsy
(CP).

Methods

One hundred and sixty individuals with CP (aged 4-18 years) agreed to take part in the study. The following data
were collected in two ways. Firstly the presence or absence of drooling, the dental age, the incisal relationship and lip position were
obtained by direct observation of the children. Secondly other data for age, sex, learning disability and type of CP were collected using a
questionnaire/form. STATISTICS: This was by simple Chi squared analysis.

Results

A significantly greater number of CP children
who drooled had incompetent lips (p<0.002). When comparing CP children with drooling (mild moderate severe) and those without drooling there was a clear difference in distribution of it between those with and those without competent lips. This difference was found to be highly significant (p<0.005).

Conclusion

Lip position and oral seal share a potentially important
association with drooling.

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