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the senior E.S.N, schools are in need of speech therapy, and this supports the theory
that it is in the junior E.S.N, schools that the most effective speech therapy can be done.
The senior E.S.N, schools need the speech therapist, but to a lesser degree.
Audiometry and audiology
Routine group gramophone audiometer testing of school pupils continued throughout
1953, using three sets of Western Electric Type 2120-A and five sets of Western Electric
Model 4 equipment. Pupils failing two consecutive group gramophone tests are tested
individually with pure tone apparatus, five Amplivox model 61 and three Maico
audiometers being available in the divisions. The intention in group gramophone testing
is that, each year, all junior school entrants should be tested, and also, if possible, that
some of the arrears of older children who have not previously been tested should be
tackled. The results of the tests carried out during 1953 are as follows :
1. Estimated Junior School Entrants, age 7 + years 48,000
2. Pupils given first gramophone test 43,972
3. Pupils given second gramophone test 15,456
4. Pupils given second gramophone
age of line (2) 35.1
5. Pupils given pure tone test 4,079
6. Pupils given pure tone test-percentage of line (2) 9.3
7. Pupils referred to otologist 1,147
8. Pupils referred to otologist-percentage of line (2) 2.6
The pupils who have failed the individual pure tone test carried out by the school
nursing sister on those pupils who fail two consecutive group gramophone tests are
referred to an audiology centre for examination by an otologist. The results of the
otologist's examinations in 1953 were as follows:
Clinical findings Percentage
Discharged—no deafness discovered 14.6
—after treatment at audiology centre 33.2
—no improvement likely 24.8
Referred elsewhere for treatment 27.4
100.0
Educational Recommendations
Fit for ordinary school 70.1
Fit for ordinary school—to sit in front row 27.3
—with hearing aid 2.6
Referred for ascertainment —
100.0
The fact that only 14.6 per cent. of the pupils referred by the school nursing sister
were found not to be deaf by the otologist gives an indication of the efficiency of the
pure tone test as a 'screen' for selection of pupils requiring specialist examination.
That no pupil was recommended for statutory examination with a view to ascertainment
as a handicapped pupil requiring special educational treatment as deaf or partially
deaf is noteworthy. It means that such pupils have previously been detected and having
had auditory training in a special school and having been supplied, if necessary, with
hearing aids, they are able to take their place in the normal hearing environment of an
ordinary school.
In other words, testing by means of the gramophone is carried out too late, the deaf
and partially deaf children requiring ascertainment having already been detected at an
earlier age. The problem implicit in all this is one which is exercising the minds of
local education authorities generally, and there is a desire to find a technique of hearing
testing which can be successfully used on entrants at age five years, or even younger,