Promoting oral health through tailored edutainment strategies for hearing-impaired children

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a customized edutainment-based oral health promotion package using visual learning strategies among hearing-impaired children. Methods: A pre-post intervention trial was conducted among 119 hearing-impaired children. The intervention included sign-language educational videos, animated storytelling, interactive games, and reinforcement sessions. Oral hygiene and gingival health were assessed using OHI-S, plaque index, and gingival index at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed across all indices at follow-up intervals. Mean oral hygiene and gingival scores showed progressive improvement from baseline to 6 months (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Tailored edutainment strategies significantly improve oral hygiene behaviors among hearing-impaired children and offer a scalable model for inclusive oral health promotion.