Effect of Oral Health Awareness of instructors on Oral Health of Hearing Impaired Children

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral health awareness of instructors on oral health of hearing impaired children. A total sample of 200 institutionalized school children divided in to 2 groups, Group1 with hearing impaired children (study group) and Group 2 (control group) with normal children were examined for oral health status using Plaque Index (Silness and Loe, 1964), Gingival Index (Loe and Sillness,1963)and Treatment needs(standards recommended by WHO for oral health surveys,1997). The results were correlated with the mean oral health awareness scores of their respective instructors evaluated with the help of a valid questionnaire. Weighted percentages, Students T test and Chi square statistics were calculated. Mean plaque scores (2.2 + 2.1) and Gingivitis scores (1.8+ 0.4) in hearing impaired children were found to be more and approximately double that of normal children. 57.2% of the total teeth requiring treatment were in hearing impaired children. Mean Oral health awareness scores of instructors of Hearing impaired (48.8) were less compared to instructors of normal children (52.4). All the comparisons were found to be statistically significant (P=.001). Oral health status as examined by plaque and gingivitis scores of hearing impaired children are derailed compared to their normal counterparts and they have vast treatment needs to be attended which can be directly attributed to the low oral health awareness of their instructors. Oral health education needs to be targeted towards instructors of hearing impaired as their awareness appears to be inadequate. Key Words: Gingivitis, Hearing impaired (HI), Oral health awareness (OHA), Plaque