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104
The number of children given audiometer tests during 1967
was as follows:—
Pupils given screening tests 7,200
Pupils failing screening tests given pure-tone tests 1,232
Pupils referred to otologist 343
Audiology Clinics and Deaf Register
There are 274 children living in Wandsworth who are considered
to have a hearing impairment and whose names are entered
on the deaf register. Of these, 84 were new cases notified during
1967. A school medical officer supervises this register and, with
the assistance of a social worker, ensures that all children with
defective hearing are under supervision. Where children do not
attend the audiology clinic, reports are obtained from hospitals
and contact is maintained with the parents by home visits.
Hearing aids have been provided for 88 children on the deaf
register but, unfortunately, some are reluctant to use them. In such
cases, every encouragement is given by the peripatetic teacher of
the deaf, whose services are shared with the London Borough of
Lambeth, or by the social worker
A total of 272 children were attending the three audiology
clinics at the end of the year. Most of these are children who have
been found by means of the audiometry test to suffer from some
hearing loss. The clinic staff comprises an otologist, a social
worker and a school nurse. Appointments are made by the social
worker who, in liaison with the School Care Organiser, follows-up
all children to ensure that the specialist's advice is followed.
Special Investigation Clinics
In Wandsworth an average of six clinics a week are held at six
school treatment centres and they are staffed by a team of medical
officers, social workers and school nurses.
New cases are referred from various sources such as school
medical inspections, the Social Service Departments and by the
parents themselves.
The social workers discuss problems with the parents, and
maintain home and school contacts through the school care
organiser.
Children are referred to the Special Investigation Clinics for a
variety of reasons including behaviour problems, enuresis (bedwetting),
obesity, refusal to eat, etc. The behaviour problems in
children, including enuretics and those who are deemed to be out
of control at home or at school, can often be traced to the marital
problems of the parents, and these symptoms frequently show themselves
in the children of divorced or separated parents.