Identificação do possível bruxismo do sono em crianças autistas e sua relação com os diferentes níveis de suporte

Abstract

This study aimed to compare, through the application of questionnaires, whether possible sleep bruxism (SB) is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents. Additionally, it sought to determine if the frequency of SB in autistic children and adolescents is related to the level of support required for this neurological condition. To achieve this, the study involved 100 volunteer individuals, aged between 8 and 15 years, divided into two groups: children and adolescents without an ASD diagnosis (N-Au; n=50) and those with an ASD diagnosis (Au; n=50). Data were also analyzed using chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. The significance level adopted was 5%. The prevalence of SB in the total population studied was 39%, with 54% in the Au group and 24% in the N-Au group. The results indicated that autistic individuals have a higher frequency of SB (p < 0.003) compared to those in the N-Au group. Regarding gender, it was observed that it does not influence the occurrence of SB, regardless of the group (Au: p=0.30; N-Au: p=0.31). It was concluded that the occurrence of SB in autistic children and adolescents is more frequent than in those without this diagnosis. These findings highlight the importance of considering SB as a clinically relevant manifestation to be monitored in autistic patients, as it may impact the quality of life and clinical management of these individuals.