Dental aspects of hearing impairment in children – aetiology, classifications, diagnostic programmes, rehabilitation. A literature review

A literature review was performed to present the epidemiology of hearing impairment both worldwide and in Poland. Pre-and postnatal risk factors were assessed. The paper presents classifications of hearing impairment considering different factors, as well as the method of neonatal hearing screening in Poland. Diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitation methods for patients with hearing loss were described. The paper further describes oral health in deaf and hardly hearing children in Poland and worldwide, as well as implications of hearing impairment on the masticatory organ. Several factors, such as insufficient hygiene, contribute to high caries frequency and gingivitis in children with hearing impairment. Missing or malformed teeth and malocclusions pose a great challenge for dentists. Furthermore, the work draws attention to the psychological aspect of the development of children with hearing impairment. The communication barrier during a dental visit attended by a hearing-impaired child, as well as the need for appropriate training for medical personnel, which could contribute to improved oral health, are emphasised.