A bstract Objectives: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of verbal, Braille, Tell-Feel-Do, and multi-sensory communication methods in reducing dental anxiety among visually impaired children undergoing dental procedures. Methods: A randomized controlled study was conducted among 120 visually impaired children aged 6–12 years from a special school in Hyderabad, India. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups ( n = 30 per group): Group I—verbal instruction, Group II—Braille pamphlets, Group III—Tell-Feel-Do, and Group IV—multi-sensory (verbal + Braille + Tell-Feel-Do). Dental anxiety was assessed using the modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) in Braille and pulse rate monitoring with a pulse oximeter at five time points: before, during (T1, T2, and T3), and after dental procedures. The procedures included oral prophylaxis and pit-and-fissure sealant application. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc tests. Results: The multi-sensory group showed the most significant reduction in MDAS scores (from 18.7 to 13.7) and pulse rate (from 91.3 to 84.2 bpm), followed by the Tell-Feel-Do group (MDAS: 18.3–14.4; pulse rate: 92.7–90.0 bpm). The Braille and verbal groups exhibited minimal, nonsignificant reductions. Intergroup comparisons revealed statistically significant differences favoring the multi-sensory method ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: Multi-sensory communication is the most effective strategy for reducing dental anxiety in visually impaired children and should be integrated into pediatric dental practice to enhance emotional comfort and patient cooperation.
Niharika et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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