A MINIMALLY OBTRUSIVE, SECURE MASK FOR PREVENTION OF ACCESS TO THE MOUTH

Several childhood neurological conditions can lead to problems with un intended access to the mouth. Earlier workers have demonstrated benefi ts in the use of a helmet restricting mouth access, within a behaviour al modification programme. Conventionally, such headgear is very obtru sive. This paper presents a simple technique using conventional plaste r-based moulding, which has been successfully used in making secure, m inimally obtrusive masks. Masks produced for two children have been re adily accepted and have been successful. Any such headgear should be u sed only within a managed behavioural modification programme.