The cause of drooling in children with cerebral palsy -- hypersalivation or swallowing defect?

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether or not drooling in children with cerebral palsy is due to hypersalivation.

Population and methods: The study population consisted of 10 children with cerebral palsy who were identified as having severe drooling, and a matched control group composed of 10 unaffected children who had no known physical or mental disabilities. Salivary flow rate was compared between the cerebral palsied children and the control group using the chin-cup collection drool quantification method described by Sochanjwskyj. Components of the system included a cup-like collection device, a vacuum pump, plastic tubing, an airtight collection chamber, and calibrated test tubes held against the subject's chin with elastic straps attached to an orthodontic head bonnet. Statistical analysis was completed using the Student's t-test and Fisher's Exact Probability test.

Results: The ages of the population ranged from 5.2 to 15.6 years, mean age (+/- SE) of 10.56 +/- 1.13 years. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of salivary flow rate between the two groups' mean +/- SE: cerebral palsy group 0.220 +/- 0.018; control group 0.334 +/- 0.052 (P = 0.053). The results were further confirmed by comparing the buffering capacity (P = 1.00) and concentrations of the sodium (P = 0.065) and potassium ions (P = 0.058) in the saliva of the study groups.

Conclusions: Children with cerebral palsy who drool do not appear to produce excess saliva. Their salivation is similar to the control children.