5/322 Annangrove Road, Rouse Hill NSW 2155
admin@mccallgardens.org.au
(02) 9679 1031
5/322 Annangrove Road, Rouse Hill NSW 2155
admin@mccallgardens.org.au
(02) 9679 1031
When Drooling Doesn’t Dry Up:
Helping Children Manage Drooling
Drooling is normal for the first 6-18 months of life and usually resolves as the child strengthens their oral muscles and develops better coordination and control for managing saliva. Persistent excessive drooling (called sialorrhea) in pre-school and school aged children can pose significant social and hygiene issues.
- Excessing drooling can range between 10-58% percent in children with cerebral palsy (Montgomery et.al, 2016)
- Drooling can also occur in other neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability.
Treatment options range from non-invasive methods such as
Kinesio taping, oro-motor strengthening exercises, and building oral-sensory awareness, to medication and, in some cases, surgical intervention.
Examples of oro-motor strengthening and awareness activities that can be done at home include:
- Blowing bubbles or candles
- Goodnight kissing games with parents before bed
- Drinking smoothies of different thicknesses through a straw
- Playing funny-face games in front of a mirror
- Incorporating more solid foods into mealtimes
- Practising eating from a spoon, using the lips to close around the spoon to draw food into the mouth
- Using an electric toothbrush or firmer bristles to brush teeth and increase oral awareness
McCall’s paediatric speech pathologists and occupational therapists can help children with neurodevelopmental conditions manage saliva through play-based, non-invasive interventions and practical home strategies. If you would like to find out more, reach out to us via the contact us forms on our website and one of our friendly team members will contact you.
Montgomery, J., McCusker, S., Lang, K., Grosse, S., Mace, A., Lumley, R., & Kubba, H. (2016). Managing children with sialorrhoea (drooling): Experience from the first 301 children in our saliva control clinic. International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology, 85, 33–39.