[ survey on the correlation between deaf and hard- of- hearing and oral health status and behavior]

ABSTRACT

Hearing loss [deafness] is a disability that is often over looked because it is not obvious. This study investigates oral health care status and behaviors between two groups of hearing and deaf and hard-of-hearing [D and HH] adolescents in Tehran in 1385. A hundred and ninety two [D and HH] students [87 females, 105 males] attending special nonresidential public schools and 193 hearing students [87 females, 106 males] attending regular public schools from all areas of Tehran, ages 12-16 years answered a written questionnaire about frequency of dental visits, reason and time of last dental visit, frequency and time of brushing. Information about DMFT was obtained through oral examination. Chi-square and T tests were used for statistical analysis and p=0.001 was considered significant. Significant differences existed between hearing and D and HH group from different states. The hearing group had more dental visits and frequency of tooth brushing than D and HH group [P=0] and [P=0.002] respectively. Mean DMFT score in hearing and D and HH adolescents was 3.13 [SD=2.852] and 3.37 [SD=3.034] respectively. The MT score in D and HH and hearing adolescents was 0.16 [SD=0.474] and 0.04 [SD=0.273] respectively which was significantly higher than hearing group [P=0/006]. There was no significant difference between mean DMFT score of the two groups [P=0.116]. Three findings of concern are the higher rate of Extracted teeth, less dental visits and tendency of tooth brushing by D and HH adolescents. The oral health care knowledge and practices of D and HH adolescents will improve through a controlled school-based oral health education program