NSU Research Contributions
Title : Empowering Dental Professionals in South Asia to Manage Patients With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors : Shah Saif Jahan, M. Tasdik Hasan, Rajat Das Gupta, Sultana Sadia Islam, Mohammad Delwer Hossain Hawlader, Nazeeba Siddika, Mushfiq Hassan Shaikh, and Ehsanul Hoque Apu
| Journal Article Title: Special Care in Dentistry | Volume Number: 45 | Publication Year : 2025 | Issue Number: 3 |
| Index: scopus | Ranking: Q2 | Publisher Name: Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of the Special Care Dentistry Association | |
| Pages : 3 | |||
| ISSN (Online): 1754-4505 | |||
| Funding Source : None |
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Direct Sustainable Development Goals : SDG3 Good Health & Well-being |
Indirect Sustainable Development Goals : SDG4 Quality Education SDG10 Reduced Inequality |
Sustainable Development Sub Goals : Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health and well-being Achieve universal health coverage Eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access for persons with disabilities |
| Impact statement: This critical correspondence highlights the urgent need for specialized training and systemic reform in South Asian dental care to accommodate patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The authors identify significant barriers, including sensory-unfriendly clinical environments, communication gaps, and a severe shortage of dentists trained in special needs care—noting that in Bangladesh, there are only 6 dentists per 100,000 people. The work serves as a call to action for implementing sensory-friendly clinic models (e.g., noise reduction and "quiet rooms"), integrating ASD modules into dental curricula, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration with neurologists and therapists to ensure equitable and inclusive healthcare for neurodivergent populations. | Collaboration: Other | Keywords: autism spectrum disorder (ASD), South Asia, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), special needs dentistry, interprofessiona |
