Social interaction and self-esteem of children with cerebral palsy after treatment for severe drooling

• Published in: European journal of pediatrics 2006, Vol.165 (1), p.37-41
• Main Authors: VAN DER BURG, Jan J. W, JONGERIUS, Peter H, VAN LIMBEEK, Jacques, VAN HULST, Karen, ROTTEVEEL, Jan J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Anti-Dyskinesia Agents - therapeutic use; Audio equipment; Biological and medical sciences; Botulinum Toxins - therapeutic use; Cerebral palsy; Cerebral Palsy - complications; Cerebral Palsy - psychology; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Children & youth; Clinical trials; Data analysis; Families & family life; Female; General aspects; Headache. Facial pains. Syncopes. Epilepsia. Intracranial hypertension. Brain oedema. Cerebral palsy; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Medical sciences; Muscarinic Antagonists - therapeutic use; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Parents & parenting; Pediatrics; Personal appearance; Questionnaires; Scopolamine Hydrobromide - therapeutic use; Self Concept; Self esteem; Sialorrhea - drug therapy; Sialorrhea - psychology; Social interaction; Statistics, Nonparametric; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0340-6199; 1432-1076
• DOI: 10.1007/s00431-005-1759-z

The impact of salivary flow reduction following medication (scopolamine and botulinum neurotoxin) on social interaction and emotional development (self-esteem) was evaluated in a group of 45 children with cerebral palsy who suffered from severe drooling. The children ranged in age from 3 to 16 years (median 9.1 years); 28 were male, 17 female. A questionnaire to document the impact of drooling on social interaction and self-esteem for both the children and their parents was developed and administered during the use of scopolamine and up to 24 weeks after intraglandular botulinum neurotoxin in the submandibular glands. The reduction of drooling was related to increased social contacts with peers. In addition, parents perceived that the impact of drooling on the level of the child's satisfaction on physical appearance, relations within the extended family, and life in general increased. Although medication led to (temporary) positive changes, many social and emotional consequences remained unchanged. Interventions to treat drooling should not only be evaluated using measurements of drooling, but the consequences on social interaction and self-esteem should also be assessed.