Dental Fear Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Specific Aims Our study objective is to investigate if video peer modeling before the visit, plus immersive virtual reality during a preventive dental visit, reduces dental fear and uncooperative behaviors among children with ASD. SPECIFIC AIM: To pilot and test the feasibility and effectiveness of video peer modeling and immersive virtual reality in reducing dental fear among children with autism undergoing preventive dental visits. Methods: The investigators will enroll eighty (80) subjects aged 7-17 years with a known diagnosis of autism, who had a history of dental fear, per parental report. Study hypotheses: The primary hypotheses of interest are: (i) The mean change in the Venham Anxiety Score (VAS) over the 4 month period in children with ASD who receive the video intervention (Group B) is different from the mean change in the VAS over the 4-month period in children with ASD in the control group. (ii) The mean change in the VAS over the 4-month period in children with ASD who receive the immersive VR intervention (Group C) is different from the mean change in the VAS over the 4-month period in children with ASD in the control group. (iii) The mean change in the VAS over the 4-month period in children with ASD who receive the video intervention plus the immersive VR intervention (Group D) is different from the mean change in the VAS over the 4-month period in children with ASD in the control group. The secondary hypothesis is: (i) The mean change in the Venham Behavior Score over the 4-month period in children with ASD in Group D is different from the mean change in the Venham Behavior Score over the 4-month period in children with ASD in Group B or C.