The Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Oral Sensory Challenges in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

A BSTRACT Objectives: The purpose of the systematic review was to provide a summary and evaluation of oral sensory challenges in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Materials and Methods: The review evaluated 19 studies that met the inclusion and search criteria. The review is registered in Prospero Database (CRD42020179852). The 14 studies (8 case–control, 4 cohort, 1 observational, and 1 randomized clinical trial) were related to speech disorders and five studies (case–control studies) were associated with feeding and eating behavior in ASD. The meta-analysis of speech and feeding behavior was analyzed by using risk ratios (RRs) and standardized mean difference (SMD), with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The meta-analysis found a statistically significant difference of speech disorder between children and adolescents of ASD when compared with typically developed or other neurotypical children of similar age [0.4891 (95% CI = −2.4580; 1.4799), fixed effect; −0.1726 (95% CI = −14.2925; 7.5697), random effect]. Feeding and eating behavior reported a statistically significant difference between ASD children and adolescents with similar age group of typically developed controls [0.0433 (95% CI = −0.3531; 0.4398), fixed-effect; 0.3711 (95% CI = −3.0751; 3.8172), random effect]. Conclusion: The speech errors and feeding behavior were more consistent in ASD than in typically developed controls. The oral sensory challenges such as speech disorder and feeding behavior were more prevalent in ASD children and adolescents than in typically developed children and adolescents of the same age group. There was a significant lack in oral sensory-motor synchronization, incomplete motor planning, and poor oral neuromuscular coordination.

Sensory processing and eating behaviours in autism: A systematic review

“…With regards to sensory processing, it is also important at this stage to clarify possible heterogeneity. 'Oral sensory processing’ refers to the processing of food or other objects put in the mouth, and oral sensory sensitivities refer to atypical sensory processing associated with this process (Chaware et al., 2021). Oral sensory sensitivities can encompass atypical processing across multiple sensory domains, including taste, smell and tactile processing, and thus have been synthesised as a distinct sensory domain than taste/smell sensitivities alone.…”

“…While oral sensory processing was associated with mealtime behaviours, food repertoire and food neophobia, it should be noted that oral processing encompasses multiple sensory domains, including taste/smell and tactile sensitivities (Chaware et al., 2021). The current review found evidence to suggest that tactile sensitivities may not play as significant a role, with studies either reporting non‐significant associations (Nadon et al., 2011; Zickgraf & Mayes, 2018) or having measurement limitations that prevent generalisable or comparable conclusions (e.g., Suarez et al., 2012, 2014).…”

Speech assessment tool methods for speech impaired children: a systematic literature review on the state-of-the-art in Speech impairment analysis

“…The work concentrated on analysing psychiatric disorders and collected studies from the past 10 years that employ speech to identify the presence or severity of mental disorders. In 2021, another review was published to summarise and evaluate oral sensory problems in children and adolescents with ASD [ 18 ]. A systematic search was reported in the work with the published articles from January 2000 to December 2018, concentrating entirely on ASD.…”

Development and Validation of Oro-Motor Sensory Training Module for Feeding Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

“…Hence, there is a significant need for oral stimulation targeting the articulating surface of the speech element, increasing muscle coordination, gratifying sensory demands, or lessening sensory overload, which may control feeding and eating behavior. 12 Hence, oro-motor sensory stimulation may assist in the advancement of both speech and feeding issues in ASD children. Therefore, the current organized stepwise graded module was developed to benefit therapists in assessing, setting goals, and identifying activities to support feeding problems in children with ASD.…”