I have a 2 1/2 year old boy who has been speech delayed and diagnosed with aprxia. My question is, what can I do about his constant and extreme drooling?

Drooling or sialorrhea, the spillage of saliva out of the mouth, is a common problem in children and adults with speech delay and some non-progressive neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy. It is estimated that 10 to 15% of such children will drool significantly. Troublesome drooling causes many different problems - increased care (increased clothing/ bib changes); soiling of household furnishings, toys, school supplies (including computers!, skin rashes. and loss of self-esteem. Therefore, we understand your concern. Dr. Barton Schmitt, a well respected developmental pediatrician, has written an article about this problem ("Excessive Drooling", and with his permission we have reproduced it on our site. We hope it helps.

As a reminder, this information should not be relied on as medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice of your child’s pediatrician. Please read our full disclaimer.