Why do some children drool?
Drooling is often seen in children diagnosed with neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism and intellectual disability.
Why is this?
Drooling can be made worse if the child finds it difficult to control their head movements and posture.
Causes
Drooling in children with neurological conditions can be caused by a combination of the following factors:
Difficulty Swallowing
When there is a lack of sensation to saliva build-up in the mouth, a child will swallow less. Alternatively, a child may find it difficult to swallow properly. Both problems mean too much saliva remains in the mouth, leading to excessive watering of the mouth.
Poor Mouth Control
If there are unusual tongue and lip movements, or the child’s mouth is always open, it can be difficult to keep saliva in the mouth.
Poor Posture
When a child has difficulty controlling their head movements and posture, it can affect their ability to keep excessive saliva inside the mouth.
Medications
Excessive salivation can be a side effect of some medications, such as treatments used for epilepsy. You may wish to discuss the medications your child is taking with their healthcare professional.