Abstract
Objective: Visual and hearing impairments are known to profoundly affect children’s psychological development, including their anxiety. However, strong emotional relationship with their mother found in these children may help them cope. Measuring salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) in saliva samples is widely used in clinical settings as a reliable, non-invasive biomarker of anxiety level.Methods: Our objective was to evaluate sAA levels in visually and hearing-impaired children and their mothers before and after dental treatment. This study included 60 children with visual and hearing impairments and their mothers. sAA level of both children and mothers was sampled while they were together in the waiting room before treatment. The children then underwent dental prophylaxis in a separate room, and their post-treatment sAA was measured immediately afterward. At that time, their mother’s post-treatment sAA was sampled in the waiting room. Data were analyzed using a Wilcoxon test.Results: sAA levels were found to differ significantly between pre- and post-dental treatment (p<0.05).Conclusion: This difference indicates that reducing maternal anxiety would be of great benefit in reducing anxiety in visually and hearing-impaired children. Practical implications: Appropriately managing anxiety in this group of children can be of great benefit to dentists in daily practice, helping them provide the care that these children need.
Highlights
Visual and hearing impairments are those conditions of the eyes and ears that are classified as disabilities and health problems that affect communication and performance of daily activities [1]
A similar trend was found for mothers, as Table 2 summarizes. salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) levels measured before and after their children’s treatment differed significantly, with the average level before treatment being higher than after treatment
Present study found a significant difference in sAA levels of children with sensory impairment before dental treatment, when they were accompanied by their mothers, to after treatment, when they had undergone their first dental treatment without the assistance of their mothers (Table 1)
Summary
Visual and hearing impairments are those conditions of the eyes and ears that are classified as disabilities and health problems that affect communication and performance of daily activities [1]. When such impairments appear during childhood, behavioral development may be disrupted [2]. Anxiety toward dental care is a very common problem that is heightened in people with impaired sensory organs. The incomplete information gathered by impaired senses can induce feelings of fear or anxiety, which in dental treatment may lead to unsuccessful visits. Maciel reported a high prevalence of oral problems in patients with sensory impairments due to difficulties in maintaining oral hygiene without the help of others [4]
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