Anxiety Rating Scale for Speech and Hearing-impaired Children

Abstract

Background: It has been observed that children with special healthcare needs exhibit higher dental anxiety levels because of various barriers. In the literature, there is no anxiety assessment scale for speech and hearing-impaired children. A new concept of pictorial representation of common emotions observed during dental treatment was used to design an innovative scale, thereby helping to improve communication and in bringing out positive behavior among the children. This study aimed to assess and validate the efficacy of an anxiety rating scale for speech and hearing-impaired children. Materials and methods: A total of 36–12-year-old children with speech and hearing impairments from a special school were selected for this study. The pretreatment anxiety score among the children was assessed using the pictorial anxiety rating scale. Results: The anxiety rating scale was well accepted by speech and hearing-impaired children. It was well-supported by expert opinions and equal distribution of anxiety scores. Conclusion: The pictorial scale is a valid anxiety assessment scale for measuring dental anxiety among speech and hearing-impaired children. It can be used independently to assess dental anxiety in clinical settings and epidemiological studies as well.