Evaluation of effectiveness of distraction techniques on dental anxiety among children with hearing and speech disability: A comparative study

Fear and anxiety are the primary emotions in children, which need consideration during the dental management of children, especially children with special health care needs.

Dental anxiety and the fear of pain associated with dental visit remain widespread among children.

 Children with special health care needs are at a higher risk of poor oral health due to their inability to communicate and/or inadequate oral health education.(1) Therefore, dental treatment portrays a potential threat to the child which can induce stress, fear, and anxiety. (2)

To assist in the management of a child with anxiety, several research  have shown that distraction techniques such as television watching, use of virtual reality and audio-visual  eyeglasses, may effectively help to distract the child’s attention from anxiety-provoking stimuli, leading to a relaxing experience for the child.(3)

Various techniques have been used in literature for the assessment of dental anxiety and distraction techniques but scanty literature is available, in anxiety management of children with hearing and speech disabilities.

Fidget spinners and kaleidoscope  with the help of mirrors and reflected lights displays a variety of ever-changing shapes and colour schemes are said to reduce stress and help children focus on daily tasks.(4)

Hence, the study attempts to evaluate the effect by these two distraction techniques on dental anxiety among the children with hearing and speech disability.

1. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY:

·       Children with special health care needs are more prone to dental anxiety and therefore, exhibit poor oral health.

·       Dental treatment portrays a threat to the child which can induce anxiety.

·       When they, report routine management protocol will not be suitable because of various barriers.

·       However, scanty literature is available, in terms of anxiety management in children with hearing and speech disabilities.

To evaluate and compare the anxiety levels of children with hearing and speech disability undergoing dental treatment using PJSPictorial Scale and physiologic parameter such as pulse rate at two intervals that is before and after treatment