Association Between Primary School Children's Speaking Attitudes and Oral Health Indicators

Association Between Primary School Children's Speaking Attitudes and Oral Health Indicators: A Cross-Sectional Study

his cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the relationship between primary school children's speaking attitudes and oral health indicators, including dental caries, malocclusion, and tooth loss. A total of 184 children aged 7-12 years participated. Sociodemographic data, oral examination findings, and Speaking Attitudes Scale for Children (SASC) scores were collected. The study seeks to identify whether oral health problems influence children's self-perceived communication confidence and to emphasize the importance of integrating oral health awareness into early educational settings.

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted to assess the association between primary school children's speaking attitudes and their oral health status. The study included 184 children aged 7-12 years who underwent intraoral examinations to record dental caries (dmft/DMFT indices), malocclusion, and tooth loss. The Speaking Attitudes Scale for Children (SASC) was used to evaluate children's attitudes toward their speaking skills. Data were analyzed to explore correlations between SASC scores and oral health indicators. The findings are expected to provide insight into how oral health conditions, such as untreated caries or malocclusion, may influence children's communication confidence and social participation. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Erciyes University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: 2024/211).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 7-12 years enrolled in primary schools Children who are native Turkish speakers Children without systemic or developmental disorders Children and parents who provided informed consent to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

• hildren with speech or hearing impairments Children with fixed orthodontic appliances Children with missing permanent first molars due to extraction Children with a history of craniofacial anomalies or trauma