BEHAVIOR MANAGMENT TECHNICS FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN : A CASE REPORT

,; ,; ,

Journal of the Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 1998;25(3):525-532.
Published online August 31, 1998.

BEHAVIOR MANAGMENT TECHNICS FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN : A CASE REPORT

자폐의 정도에 따른 행동조절법의 적용 : 증례보고

정샛별, 최영철, 이긍호

경희대학교 치과대학 소아치과학교실

Abstract

The autism is a complex disorder, characterized language impairment, perceptual-motor difficulties, and social disturbance. The autistic children have hyperactivity, lack of communication' lack of cooperation, inappropriate patient/dentist interaction, so they require professionally recognized behavioral management technique during dental treatment such as behavior modification, phamacological agents, and general anesthesia. A behavior management technique can be chosen by factors such as the severity of autism and possible accompanying disabilities, degree of cooperation, oral and general conditions of children. A non-pharmacological behavior modification may be selected for the autistic children who are able to communicate with dentist with mild dental caries, without compromised medical history. In case of excessively hyperactive, destructive, antisocial, and/or severe communicative disorder, a sedation technic with chloral hydrate, hydroxyzine, midazolam or nitrous oxide gas might to be performed. General anesthesia is preferred for severe communicative and/or behavioral disorder, elder age, excessive dental care need, and living a remote area.

Key Words: autism, behavior management, behavior modification, sedation, general anesthesia