Despite average intellectual capacity, autistic traits may complicate performance in many everyday situations, thus leading to stress. This study focuses on stress in everyday life in intellectually able adults with autism spectrum disorders. In total, 53 adults (25 with autism spectrum disorder and 28 typical adults from the general population) completed the Perceived Stress Scale. Autistic traits were assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient. Adults with autism spectrum disorder reported significantly higher subjective stress and poorer ability to cope with stress in everyday life, as compared to typical adults. Autistic traits were associated with both subjective stress/distress and coping in this cross-sectional series. The long-term consequences of chronic stress in everyday life, as well as treatment intervention focusing on stress and coping, should be addressed in future research as well as in the clinical management of intellectually able adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common developmental disorder. The present study tested the hypotheses that children with ADHD, particularly those exhibiting severe hyperactivity and impulsivity, have a different stress reaction (measured by salivary cortisol) during a dental recall visit and are more dentally anxious than children in a control group. Eighteen children with ADHD and a control group of 71 children, all 13 yr of age, underwent a clinical dental examination and completed the Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS). Four saliva samples were gathered for analysis of cortisol: one prior to dental examination, one after, and two the following morning. The subgroup ADHD with hyperactivity/impulsivity had statistically significantly lower cortisol levels than the control group 30 min after awakening. When cortisol values were plotted on a timeline, this subgroup always had lower cortisol concentrations than children in the control group. There was a significant correlation between CDAS scores and cortisol concentrations prior to the dental examination in both the ADHD and the control group. Behavioral expressions of anxiety in children with ADHD may be different from those in other children, not only due to the characteristics of their disorder, but also because of lower stress reactivity.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common developmental disorder. This study tested the hypothesis that children with ADHD exhibit a higher caries prevalence and poorer oral health behavior than children in a control group. Twenty-one children with ADHD and a control group of 79 children, all aged 13 yr, underwent a clinical dental examination and completed two questionnaires on dietary habits and dental hygiene habits. Differences between the groups regarding decayed, missed, or filled surfaces, decayed surfaces, initial caries lesions, and gingival inflammation were non-significant. Forty-eight percent in the ADHD group brushed their teeth every evening compared with 82% in the control group. The corresponding frequencies for brushing the teeth every morning were 48% and 75%. Children with ADHD were 1.74 times more likely to eat or drink more than five times a day than children in the control group. In conclusion, at age 13, children with ADHD do not exhibit a statistically significantly higher caries prevalence but do have poorer oral health behavior than children in a control group. The intervals between dental examinations of children with ADHD should be shorter than for other children to prevent a higher caries incidence in adolescence because of their oral health behavior.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common developmental disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate whether children with ADHD have a higher caries prevalence, a higher degree of dental anxiety, or more dental behavior management problems (BMP) than children of a control group. Twenty-five children with ADHD and a control group of 58 children, all aged 11 yr, were included in the study. The children underwent a clinical dental examination, and bitewing radiographs were taken. The parents completed the Dental Subscale of Children's Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-DS). Dental records from the subjects were obtained, and data regarding notes on behavior management problems (BMP) of the children when between 3 and 10 yr of age were compiled. Compared with controls, children with ADHD had significantly higher decayed, missing or filled surfaces (DMFS) (2.0 +/- 3.0 vs. 1.0 +/- 1.5) and significantly higher decayed surfaces (DS) (1.7 +/- 3.6 vs. 0.5 +/- 0.9). Differences between the groups regarding CFSS-DS scores were non-significant. In the ADHD group, the prevalence of BMP increased when the children were between 7 and 9 yr of age. In conclusion, children with ADHD exhibited a higher caries prevalence, did not exhibit a higher degree of dental anxiety, and had more BMP than children of a control group.