Associations between oral function by gargling and suspected neurodevelopmental disorders: A study of 5-year-old children’s health checkups in a Tokyo metropolitan municipality.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the relationship between oral function, assessed by gargling, and suspected neurodevelopmental disorders in 5-year-old children.

Methods: We used maternal and child health data from 1,490 pairs of parents and 5-year-old children who received health checkups in one municipality in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The data were obtained during the mother’s pregnancy period and children’s health checkups. In The evaluation of the children’s oral function during examination by a pediatrician, those suspected of having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were classified under “ASD or ADHD”; those who had other developmental findings were classified under “other developmental findings.” The relationship was analyzed using a nominal logistic regression analysis.

Results: The odds ratio (95%Confidence interval) for “not possible” or “problematic” in the oral function of the 5-year-old health checkup was 2.64 (1.68-4.15) for “ASD and ADHD” and 1.70 (1.11-2.61) for “other developmental findings.”

Conclusion: Children with suspected neurodevelopmental disorders are likely to have comorbid oral functional issues. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a system in which they can receive professional support. To enable timely support, it is useful to implement gargling at home or at the child’s preschool.