The relationship between oral sensation and drooling in persons with cerebral palsy

This study examined the relationship between oral sensation and drooling in persons with cerebral palsy. The sample was composed of 40 subjects between 5 and 21 years of age who had a diagnosed condition of cerebral palsy. Twenty of the subjects had a drooling problem and 20 did not. The subjects were randomly selected from two Montreal schools for the disabled. The experimental procedure consisted of the administration of three tests of oral sensation: a test of oral stereognosis, a test of oral form discrimination, and a test of lingual two-point discrimination. In addition, saliva was quantified in those subjects who drooled. The results suggested a relationship between oral stereognosis and drooling in persons with cerebral palsy. The main implication for occupational therapists is that the assessment and treatment of drooling in people with cerebral palsy should address both the sensory and motor elements of oral function.