Management of Traumatic Injuries in Visually Impaired Child with Modified Behaviour Management Techniques: A Case Report
Dipali Vetal *
Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Siddhartha Dental College and Hospital, Tumkur. India.
Jyothsna V Setty
Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Siddhartha Dental College and Hospital, Tumkur. India.
Mahesh Kumar Karuppiah
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SRM Kattankulathur Dental College and Hospital, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India.
Anushka Choche
Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Siddhartha Dental College and Hospital, Tumkur. India.
Atharv Kulkarni
Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Siddhartha Dental College and Hospital, Tumkur. India.
Utkarsh Patil
Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Sri Siddhartha Dental College and Hospital, Tumkur. India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The prevalence of childhood blindness varies worldwide, affecting approximately 0.3 per 1,000 children in industrialized nations, 1.2 per 1,000 in developing countries, and up to 1.7 per 1,000 in India. Visual impairment significantly impacts a child's ability to navigate their environment and perform daily activities, posing unique challenges in pediatric dental care. Effective management of these patients requires specialized behavior management strategies to facilitate communication and cooperation during treatment. One such approach is the Audio-Tactile Performance (ATP) technique, a multisensory oral health education method specifically developed for children with visual impairments. Instead of the conventional 'Tell-Show-Do' method, modified techniques such as 'Tell-Feel-Do' and 'Tell-Hear-Do' can be employed to familiarize the child with dental procedures in a manner tailored to their sensory abilities. This case report highlights the successful management of an Ellis Class IV fracture of the anterior teeth in a visually impaired child using these adapted behavioral strategies, demonstrating their effectiveness in achieving positive treatment outcomes.
Keywords: Visual impairment, pediatric dentistry, audio-tactile performance (ATP) technique, Tell-Feel-Do, Tell-Hear-Do, dental trauma