Effectiveness of Picture Exchange Communication System(PECS) in improving tooth brushing ability of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD)

Authors

Syakriani Syahrir, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, MakassarFollow
Andi AM. Putri, Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, IndonesiaFollow
Karima Q. Mansjur, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, IndonesiaFollow
Aisyah K. Yunus, Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, IndonesiaFollow

Abstract

Objective: This study assesses the efficacy of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) in enhancing tooth brushing skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Material and Method: The research utilized a prospective interventional strategy, encompassing 54 children aged 4 to 18 years with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants were trained across two sessions, separated by a two-week interval, to adhere to a systematic tooth-brushing protocol utilizing PECS. The data collection involved assessing Oral Hygiene Index Scores (OHIS) at 5 and 10 days following the intervention and maintaining a diary to document participants' daily tooth brushing habits as reported by their parents.

Results: The findings indicated a notable enhancement in oral hygiene, with pre-intervention OHIS values averaging 1.50, in contrast to a post-intervention average of 0.86. The t-value of 3.755 and p-value of 0.000 indicate a highly statistically significant decrease in OHIS ratings, suggesting a substantial improvement in the children's oral hygiene after the PECS intervention. This discovery highlights the efficacy of PECS as a valuable instrument for enhancing self-care abilities, including teeth brushing, in children with ASD.

Conclusion: The PECS technique serves as an effective augmentative communication strategy that assists children with ASD in surmounting communication obstacles, thereby enhancing their oral hygiene habits and general health.

Recommended Citation

Syahrir, Syakriani; Putri, Andi AM.; Mansjur, Karima Q.; and Yunus, Aisyah K. (2024) "Effectiveness of Picture Exchange Communication System(PECS) in improving tooth brushing ability of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD)," Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science: Vol. 9: Iss. 3, Article 3.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15562/jdmfs.v9i3.1893
Available at: https://scholarhub.unhas.ac.id/jdmfs/vol9/iss3/3

Pages

201-204

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Rights

©2024Syakriani Syahrir, Andi AM. Putri, Karima Q. Mansjur, Aisyah K. Yunus

DOI

10.15562/jdmfs.v9i3.1893