title: Impact of visual instruction on oral hygiene status of children with hearing impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with hearing impairment (CHI) have poor oral health and extensive unmet treatment needs. This could be attributed to their inability to cooperate with dental treatment and lack of oral health awareness due to communication barriers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to verify the impact of visual instruction on oral hygiene status of CHI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective triple blind interventional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oral hygiene status of 372 institutionalized CHI aged 6-16 years, divided into study (180) and control groups (192) was evaluated using Loe and Silness Gingival index and Silness and Loe Plaque index. Motivation in the form of visual instruction was done in the study group every weekend for 12 weeks and control group was followed without motivation. Oral hygiene status was re-assessed and analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Paired t-test was used to compare the scores before and after the instructions. Unpaired t-test was used for intergroup comparison between the study and control groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant mean reduction of plaque (0.37) and gingival scores (0.39) in the study group, but only marginal reduction of plaque (0.08) and gingival scores (0.1) observed in the control group. Significant gender and age variations were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visual instruction was found to be an effective oral health education tool in CHI.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Sandeep
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Vinay
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Madhuri
authors: Veerabhadra V
authors: VV
authors: Rao
authors: K S
authors: KS
authors: Uloopi
authors: R Chandra
authors: RC
authors: Sekhar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009909:Oral Health; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D014785:Vision, Ocular