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

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&HH) adolescents in Tehran in 1385. A hundred and ninety two (D&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&HH group from different states. The hearing group had more dental visits and frequency of tooth brushing than D&HH group (P=0) and (P=0.002) respectively. Mean DMFT score in hearing and D&HH adolescents was 3.13 (SD=2.852) and 3.37 (SD=3.034) respectively. The MT score in D&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&HH adolescents. The oral health care knowledge and practices of D&HH adolescents will improve through a controlled school-based oral health education program.