An interventional study of virtual reality distraction and show-do technique in Dental Anxiety of Hearing Impairment, sponsored by October University for Modern Sciences and Arts. Completed at 1 site in Egypt. Open to participants aged 6 Years to 12 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-27.
Sponsored by October University for Modern Sciences and Arts · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
This randomized controlled clinical trial aims to compare the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) eyewear used as a distraction method in combination with the Show-Do (SD) technique versus the traditional Show-Do technique alone in managing dental anxiety and improving behavioral responses among Egyptian children with different levels of hearing impairment during a dental prophylaxis procedure. The study will evaluate dental anxiety using pulse rate and the PJS-Pictorial Scale, while behavior will be assessed using the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale. The trial seeks to provide evidence-based guidance on the implementation of VR technology as an adjunctive non-pharmacological tool for children with communication barriers in pediatric dentistry.
Dental anxiety is a common barrier to effective dental care in pediatric patients, particularly in children with special health care needs such as hearing impairment. Communication limitations can increase anxiety and reduce cooperation, complicating dental treatment delivery. Traditional non-pharmacological techniques such as the Show-Do (SD) method are widely used to reduce anxiety by familiarizing children with dental procedures through demonstration and gradual exposure. However, their effectiveness may be limited in children with hearing impairments, who may not fully understand auditory or verbal explanations.
Virtual reality (VR) eyewear represents an innovative behavioral management tool that immerses the child in an interactive and engaging virtual environment, thereby diverting attention away from the dental procedure and reducing anxiety. Evidence from recent systematic reviews indicates that VR interventions can significantly decrease pain perception and anxiety in pediatric medical and dental settings, yet studies specifically targeting children with hearing impairment remain scarce.
This randomized controlled trial will be conducted at the Pediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, MSA University. Participants will include children with varying levels of hearing impairment requiring dental prophylaxis. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the control group (Show-Do technique only) or the intervention group (Show-Do technique combined with VR eyewear). Dental anxiety will be measured objectively using pulse oximetry and subjectively using the PJS-Pictorial Scale, while behavior will be assessed using the Frankl Behavior Rating Scale.
The study is designed to generate clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of integrating VR eyewear with conventional behavioral management methods for children with communication challenges. The results are expected to contribute to the development of inclusive, non-pharmacological strategies to manage dental anxiety and improve cooperation among pediatric patients with hearing impairments, ultimately enhancing patient-centered care in pediatric dentistry.
1,573 studies on the registry are indexed under Behavior; 313 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 54 is below the median of 120 across 1,197 interventional studies indexed under Behavior.
Browse Behavior studies →October University for Modern Sciences and Arts is the lead sponsor of 51 studies on the registry; 19 are open to participants now.
Compared within Behavior, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Anxiety Disorders. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
The criteria were revised on the registry on Oct 26, 2026. See what changed
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
A- Show-Do Technique: Description: This technique will be integrated with the VR eyewear intervention to enhance understanding and comfort. The show-do technique involves: * Show: The child will be shown the dental tools and explain their purpose, possibly using visual aids or models. * Do: The procedure will be Performed as explained with continuous reassurance and support. B- Virtual Reality Component: Participants in this group will experience a virtual reality (VR) eyewear in an environment designed to distract them during dental prophylaxis procedure. The VR content will be age-appropriate and engaging, and featuring interactive (e.g., Fun animations, and Cartoons). Implementation: Before the dental treatment and after the implementation with show-do, children will be fitted with VR eyewear, where the aim is to immerse the child in the VR experience to reduce their focus on the dental treatment. Duration: • The VR eyewear experience will last for the duration of t
Device: virtual reality distraction
Participants in this group will receive the standard show-do technique without the VR eyewear distraction. The same steps (Show, Do) will be employed to prepare the child for the dental procedure, but without the use of VR technology.
Behavioral: show-do technique
children wear virtual reality glasses during dental prophylaxis procedure to reduce dental anxiety and enhance patient's behavior.
conventional behavioral technique where the dentist shows and then perform the procedure to reduce anxiety and build cooperation.
anxiety level (objective)
tool: pulse oximeter unit: beats per minute
Time frame: baseline (5 minutes before session), during treatment (real-time), and immediately post-treatment (within 5 minutes)
anxiety level (subjective)
tool: Pictorial Judgement Scale for Anxiety Assessment (PJS-pictorial scale) unit: score 1-5, (1: means very happy, 5: means very anxious.)
Time frame: immediately before treatment (baseline), during treatment (real-time), and immediately after treatment (post-procedure)
behavior assessment
tool: Frankel rating scale unit: score 1-4 (1: means definitely negative and 4: means definitely positive)
Time frame: immediately before treatment (baseline), during treatment (real-time), and immediately after treatment (post-procedure)
Plan to share: Yes
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
October University for Modern Sciences and Arts