•  
  •  
 

Arabian Journal of Pediatric Dentistry

Abstract

Background: Children with visually impairments encounter numerous challenges in maintaining adequate oral hygiene. Their reliance on caregivers limits their ability to utilize visual aids and engage with the medical instructions typically found in standard dental health education programs.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of oral health education (OHE) delivered through two different methods: audio and tactile, on the Knowledge – attitude – behavior (KAB) related to oral health, as well as the oral health status of visually impaired children.

Material and Methods: A total of sixty-six visually impaired children, aged 5-18 years, residing at a specialized school for the visually impaired, were selected and randomly assigned into two groups of thirty- three participants each to take part in the oral health education program. Group 1 received audio aids, while Group 2 utilized Braille and tactile aids. The oral health status of the children was evaluated before and after the OHE program, which lasted six months. The program provided essential information and instructions on maintaining good oral hygiene, healthy eating habits, the mechanisms and prevention of dental diseases, and the importance of regular dental check-ups.

Results: The study demonstrated a significant reduction in the mean Oral Hygiene Index- Simplified (OHI-S) scores after the implementation of OHE in both groups when compared to baseline measurements. The difference was statistically significant (p

Conclusion: The findings suggest that combining audio, Braille & tactile models is effective in enhancing oral health education and improving the oral health status of visually impaired children.

Download

Share

COinS