Abstract

Objective: To evaluate dental status of children with hearing and speech impairment of Karachi Pakistan.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study
Place and Duration: Deaf Reach School Karachi, Pakistan & the duration of study was 6 months.
Methodology: This study conducted among 106 children with hearing and speech impairment aged 5–15 years of either gender attending Deaf Reach School. After taking informed consent the subjects were examined for oral health status. Dental caries was assessed by using DMFT index and Oral hygiene status was assessed by using oral hygiene index‑simplified (OHI‑S). The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.
Results: The overall caries prevalence in the study population was 51% with an overall mean DMFT score of 2.08 (±2.97). Out of 106 hearing and speech impaired children, majority had good hygiene status (48.1%), 46.2% had fair hygiene status and only 5.7% had poor hygiene status with overall mean OHI-S score of 1.45±1.01.

Conclusion: A high prevalence of dental caries was observed among hearing and speech impaired children There is a high need for an epidemiological survey followed by the comprehensive dental care programs for children with hearing speech impairment, as well as efforts should be taken to encourage and promote parents of these children to improve their oral health.

Key words: Dental caries, DMFT, Oral health, Oral hygiene status, deaf, hearing and speech impaired children