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Audiology and audiometry
Loss of hearing constitutes so great a handicap for a child in
the learning situation that continued vigilance must be kept for
its detection. Throughout the pre-school period, screening tests
are undertaken by the clinical medical officers and special observation
is made on children who are at risk of being deaf. At the
time of school entry, each child is tested by means of sweep
audiometry and if a hearing loss is found, or if deafness is
suspected by the school medical officer, teacher, nurse or parent,
further investigation is undertaken. Referral is made either to a
hospital otologist or to the audiologist appointed by the Inner
London Education Authority who attends the three audiology
clinics in the Borough located at the Eileen Lecky, Doddington
and Tooting Child Health Centres. The child's general practitioner
is kept informed.
During 1972 increasing use was made of the Braidwood
Audiology Unit at Tulse Hill (Lambeth) where children can be
given a comprehensive assessment. The specialists of the Unit
contact the schools to give advice on children with poor hearing.
A peripatetic teacher of the deaf visits pre-school children in
their homes as well as children with a hearing loss who attend
ordinary schools.
The numbers of children given audiometer tests during 1972 are
as follows:-
Pupils given screening tests 7,203
Pupils given pure tone tests
after failing screening test 722
Pupils referred to otologist 117
Special investigation clinics
There are six special investigation clinics in the Borough,
which are run jointly with the Inner London Education Authori'ty.
Children are treated fo.r enuresis, obesity, and behaviour problems,
or a combination of these difficulties. Most cases are referred
following medical inspection in school, but a few come from
private doctors and the parents themselves.