London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Walthamstow 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]
This page requires JavaScript
18
Dr. Melville Watkins has contributed the following observations
on the survey:—
Clinical Assay of Group Audiometry Testing
It was decided that every child found with a decibel loss of
12 and above should, in the first instance, be seen by the School
Medical Officer who would then refer suitable cases to the Ear,
Nose and Throat Consultant.
The statistical analysis of those invited to attend the Clinics was as follows:—
| Primary School | Secondary School | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The number invited to attend the Clinics | 77 | 72 | 149 |
| Numbers actually seen at Clinics | 66 | 55 | 121 |
| Number with unilateral loss of hearing only | 60 | 50 | 110 |
| Number with bilateral loss of hearing | 17 | 22 | 39 |
| Number with severe unilateral loss of hearing of 30 D or over | 19 | 12 | 31 |
| Number with severe bilateral loss of hearing of 30 D or over | 6 | 4 | 10 |
Note.—The Audiometrician's report shows a total of 152 children referred
for treatment, but of these, three were ineducable and are not
included in the 149 above.
It is often difficult to diagnose the specific cause of deafness, but an attempt has been made below to list the causes under the more obvious presenting symptoms and signs, together with the history:—
| Primary School | Secondary School | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Nasal Catarrh | 23 | 14 | 37 |
| 2. Otorrhœa (Present) | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 3. Otorrhœa (Past) | 16 | 13 | 29 |
| 4. Following Mastoidectomy | 4 | 12 | 16 |
| 5. Wax or foreign body | 12 | 5 | 17 |
| 6. Following Infectious Diseases | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 7. Following Tonsillectomy | 1 | — | 1 |
| 8. Gross Adenoidal and Tonsillar enlargement | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 9. Probably hereditary | 1 | — | 1 |
| 10. Polypus | — | 1 | 1 |
| 11. Trauma (3 due to bomb-blast) | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 12. Congenital (Atresia) | — | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 66 | 55 | 121 |
It is interesting to note that of the numbers seen at the Clinic,
34 had their tonsils and adenoids removed at varying times previously;
also 74 had already been under treatment at some time
or another for the condition which was thought to be the cause
of the deafness.