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Report of the Principal School Medical Officer for the Year 1967
103
Of the 353 children found to have a hearing loss:
77 were found to have a hearing loss in the right ear;
96 were found to have a hearing loss in the left ear;
180 were found to have a hearing loss in both ears.
The 353 children were referred for examination by the assistant medical officers with the following
results:
97 were found to have normal hearing on clinical testing,
188 were noted for re-examination,
8 were referred for specialist consultation at Ear, Nose and Throat Departments,
24 were referred to general practitioners,
9 were referred to Audiology Units,
17 were already attending hospital,
1 was already attending an Audiology Unit,
9 had left the area.
Vision Testing
The vision testing of schoolchildren at approximately the age of seven years continued throughout
the year. These tests are additional to those carried out at the time of periodic routine medical inspections.
They are conducted in school by the health visitor/school nurses. Vision tests are given also to
children aged between eight and ten, if for any reason it is felt to be necessary.
During the year under review, the number of routine vision tests and results under this heading
were as follows:
Number of children tested 3,998
Number referred for the opinion of school medical officer 172
Of these:
53 were referred to the Authority's ophthalmic clinics,
32 were referred for treatment via general practitioners, at the request of parents,
37 were deferred for re-examination at school health clinics,
22 were considered to have normal vision,
20 were already having ophthalmic treatment,
8 left the area while investigations were proceeding.
Of the 53 children referred to the Authority's ophthalmic clinics:
44 were prescribed glasses,
9 were noted for re-examination.
ORTHOPTIC CLINIC
During 1967 the orthoptic service was continued to a more consistent pattern. The number of new
patients fell by 22, follow-up attendances for tests and observation increased by 16, and a total of
29 patients were discharged. Seven were transferred to other areas due to family removals.