Abstract

Aim The aim was to determine whether there are indications that hearing-impaired children experience difficulties in accessing dental care and/or in receiving dental treatment.

Method The study was carried out by means of a questionnaire. Parents of 84 children contacted through the National Deaf Children's Society returned completed questionnaires.

Results Eighty-two children (98%) had visited a dentist. Nearly two-thirds (63%) were reported to have at least one problem in communication while receiving dental care, this increased significantly as the severity of the hearing impairment increased. Fifty-nine children (70%) reported having at least one problem in communication at the doctors'. Fifty-two (62%) reported that the dentist had worn a mask while communicating with the child and 48 (57%) that there had been background noise in the surgery during appointments.

Conclusions Removing masks while talking, reducing background noise and learning to use simple signs may improve communication with hearing-impaired children.

1. Research Fellow, WHO Collaborating Centre for Disability, Culture and Oral Health, National Centre for Transcultural Oral Health, Eastman Dental Institute, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK.
2. Senior Lecturer, WHO Collaborating Centre for Disability, Culture and Oral Health, National Centre for Transcultural Oral Health, Eastman Dental Institute, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK.

Correspondence to: R Holt² WHO Collaborating Centre for disability, culture and oral health, National Centre for Transcultural Oral Health, Eastman Dental Institute, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD
e-mail: R.Holt@eastman.ucl.ac.uk