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Disorders Associated with Drooling
Drooling is a common problem among some persons with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.
The following disorders are more commonly associated with drooling.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a developmental disability that results from damage to or dysfunction of the developing brain. The impairments associated with cerebral palsy are non-progressive but are permanent. The degree of impairment may vary in relation to movement and posture, daily living skills and communication or socialisation skills. Although Cerebral Palsy is a permanent condition, as a person learns and grows and practices skills, more control over movement may be achieved. No two individuals are affected in the same way… some people may have minor motor skill problems, while others may be totally physically dependent.
Inadequate saliva control is seen in between 10% (Ekedahl, 1974) and 37% (Van de Heyning et al, 1980) of children with Cerebral Palsy.
People with Cerebral Palsy may drool because of:
- Issues with posture- poor head & neck control
- Difficulty in effectiveness or frequency of swallowing
- Reduced control of the muscles of the face and mouth
- Reduced sensation of the muscles of the face and mouth
For more information on Cerebral Palsy please visit the CP Australia website.
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease is a progressively degenerative neurological disorder which affects the control of body movements.
The presentation of symptoms varies greatly between individuals diagnosed and no two people will be affected in the same way.
The three symptoms used for diagnostic purposes are:
- Tremor (shaking, trembling, )
- Rigidity (stiffness of the muscles)
- Bradykinesia (slowness of movement)
At present there is no known cause and therefore the illness is termed; "idiopathic". It is not considered to be genetic although 10% of cases have a familial incidence.
People with Parkinson's Disease may drool because of:
- Stiffness of muscles around the face and mouth
- Difficulty in effectiveness or frequency of swallowing
For more information please visit the Parkinson's Victoria website.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
In MS, the body's immune system attacks its own myelin, causing disruption to the messages sent by the nerves. It is thought that genetic and environmental factors are involved - but the actual trigger to the disease has not yet been discovered.
The symptoms of MS are varied and unpredictable, depending on which part of the central nervous system is affected and to what degree.
MS can cause difficulties in motor control, fatigue, neurological symptoms, continence problems and neuropsychological symptoms.
People with Multiple Sclerosis may have issues with drooling because of:
- Reduced control of the muscles of the mouth
- Difficulty in effectiveness or frequency of swallowing
For more information on MS please visit the MS Australia website.
Stroke
A stroke interrupts blood flow to an area of the brain. A stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel or artery, or when a blood vessel breaks. Stroke may also be called a "Brain Attack" or Cerebral Vasular Accident (CVA).
The specific abilities lost or affected depend on where in the brain the stroke occurs and on the size of the stroke (i.e. the extent of brain cell death). For example, someone who has a small stroke may experience only minor effects. On the other hand, someone who has a larger stroke may be left paralysed on one side or in a coma. Some people recover completely from less serious strokes, while other individuals lose their lives to very severe strokes.
People who have had a stroke may drool because of:
- Issues with posture- poor head & neck control
- Difficulty in effectiveness or frequency of swallowing
- Reduced control of the muscles of the face and mouth
- Reduced sensation of the muscles of the face and mouth
For more information on Stroke please visit the Stroke Foundation website.
