Oral and aural problems in Australian Special Olympics athletes. (12th July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pradhan, Archana; Stormon, Nicole; Lalloo, Ratilal
• Is Part Of: Special care in dentistry. Volume 39:Number 5(2019)
• Page Start: 478
• Page End: 484
• Publication Date: 2019-07-12
• Subjects: aural health -- intellectual disability -- oral health -- Special Olympics; People with disabilities -- Dental care -- Periodicals; Older people -- Dental care -- Periodicals; Hospital dental service -- Periodicals; Dental Care for Disabled -- Periodicals; Dental Service, Hospital -- Periodicals; Geriatric Dentistry -- Periodicals; 617.60087
• DOI: 10.1111/scd.12406
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-1879

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Associations between oral and aural problems among children have been explored, but not among adults with intellectual disability (ID), where often, oral and ear pain can be difficult to diagnose. Methods: Data included Special Smiles and Healthy Hearing screenings from two Special Olympics (SO) events held in Australia (2013‐2014). Results: The SO athletes had poor oral health with a high prevalence (56.8%) of gingival signs and unmet dental needs (66.9%). Over one‐third (33.9%) had partially/completely blocked ear canals, over one‐fifth (20.7%) had possible middle ear problems, and almost one quarter (23.8%) had some hearing loss. No associations between oral and aural problems were found in the small sample (n = 130) of SO athletes. Conclusions: Although SO athletes have unmet needs for both oral and aural health, access to appropriate hygiene care is an important preventive factor that athletes, families, and carers should be made aware of. Regular oral and aural screenings are recommended to identify problems early, because ability to communicate pain and discomfort can be different for this population. A larger sample of SO athletes with tooth and sextant level data could clarify the association between oral and aural problems in people with ID.