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Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. The aetiology of autism has not been clearly identified. Affected individuals experience difficulty in social interaction and changes in their environment. There appears to be a higher percentage of malocclusion within the population with special needs than the normal population, and the demand for orthodontic treatment from this group of patients is likely to increase in line with awareness of autism and access to care. The strategies available to manage patients with autism successfully are discussed here.
CPD/Clinical Relevance: Understanding the difficulties faced by individuals affected by autistic spectrum disorder and anticipating the challenges in the provision of their care is of paramount importance in the context of their orthodontic management. These challenges, and the strategies available to successfully negotiate them, are concisely presented.
Article
Autism is a life-long developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. It is part of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD), which refers to a range of conditions characterized by some degree of impaired social behaviour, communication and language. The spectrum includes childhood autism, atypical autism and Asperger's syndrome, which are listed as pervasive developmental disorders by the WHO (World Health Organization).1 Affected individuals often express interest in a small range of pursuits or activities which tend to be carried out repetitively.2 In the UK, ASD affects approximately 1.1% of the population, with a higher prevalence in men (2%) than women (0.35%).3 Epidemiological studies indicate that the prevalence of ASD appears to be increasing globally.
The exact aetiology of ASD has not been identified, but an inter-play between genetic, neurobiological and environmental factors is thought to result in the characteristic behavioural symptoms (Table 1). To date, no specific environmental triggers have been identified. ASD often co-occurs with other conditions, including anxiety, depression and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
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