Abstract
Purpose: Anterior drooling is a common comorbidity in children and young people (CYP) with neurodevelopmental disabilities. This study aimed to assess the social and emotional impact of drooling in CYP with a developmental age (DA) of 6 years and older, in whom this impact may differ from those with a lower DA due to their developing sense of self and awareness of their position within social groups. Methods: Questionnaire data collected for routine clinical care were used to assess parental perceptions of the impact of drooling on (1) social interaction; (2) satisfaction with social interaction, appearance, family relations and life in general and (3) the way CYP expressed feelings on appearance, acceptance by peers and acceptance by adults. Fisher’s exact tests and Mann–Whitney U tests were applied to identify associations between clinical characteristics and the social and emotional impact of drooling. Results: Seventy-nine CYP with an estimated DA ≥ 6 years were included. The majority experienced frequent to constant (83%) and profuse (61%) drooling. Drooling frequently compromised social interaction with peers (49%) and adults (28%), and cognitive abilities were underestimated in 40%. Dissatisfaction with physical appearance (25%) related to drooling was noted. One-fifth of CYP reportedly expressed negative feelings on acceptance by peers related to drooling. Conclusions: These findings underscore the substantial impact of drooling on CYP with a DA of 6 years and older, primarily through avoidance by peers and underestimated cognitive abilities, emphasizing that recognizing and addressing these social-emotional consequences should be integral to clinical care.
