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the training of the child is not direct but through the mother. This training is what is
called the auditory training of the deaf, as opposed to the traditional manual and oral
methods. The child also receives training from the teacher in lip reading, speech correction
and the correct attitude to deafness.
In 1951, the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital adapted a house in
Gray's Inn Road, near the hospital, for the examination and education of the very young
deaf child and its parent. Three teachers were employed by the hospital (Ministry of
Health) and education began as early as 10 months.
At that time, the problem of deafness in very young children was the subject of
intensive investigation. This pioneer work carried out in London by the Royal National
Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital was, however, limited in scope and mainly exploratory.
As the local education authority, the Council had a close interest and duty in the matter,
and it was hoped that the Council's audiology units would develop along the same lines.
The kind of staff envisaged was three teachers, employed by the Education Officer's
department, and nine nurses employed on audiometer testing. The work in the auditory
training centres would be with the parents and children under the age of three : it was
hoped that the children would be found later to be suitable for admission to ordinary
schools.
In August, 1952, the appropriate Committees of the Council authorised the employment
of teachers of the deaf to work with young deaf children at the Council's audiology
centres. It was pointed out that, although the Education Act, 1944, made provision
for the teaching of deaf children from the age of two years, it was unusual to admit
children to the Council's nursery classes for the deaf before the age of three years, as
below that age a child was too young for full-time attendance at school. By the time a
deaf or partially deaf child was admitted to school, however, much valuable
time had been lost unless, from an early age, he had been receiving special training to
enable him to overcome his handicap. The untrained child, on admission to school,
had to spend educational time in basic training to enable him to benefit from education
and might never wholly make up the time lost. To ensure that any medical treatment
which might ameliorate their hearing conditions would be carried out, the Council
undertook that its consulting ear, nose and throat surgeons would examine all children,
whether of school age or under the age of five, and whether deaf or partially deaf,
who came under the scheme for the training of very young deaf children.
When the Council's proposal was approved by the Ministries of Health and
Education a letter was sent to all those in London who were entitled to refer deaf
children to the special clinics. A suitable peripatetic teacher to start the scheme commenced
work on 25th April, 1955, and is now working at the Province of Natal Centre,
Holborn and St. George's Dispensary, Elephant and Castle. The teacher is under the
direction of the Education Officer through his inspectorate, and is responsible singlehanded
for the teaching of deaf children carried out at the two audiology centres named
above. She is also responsible for the follow-up of the progress of pupils now attending
ordinary schools who formerly attended partially deaf units, to ensure that they are
successfully coping with a normal hearing environment. Each child attends with a
frequency determined in the light of its need and the case load. The length of a session
for each child varies. 52 children were attending her sessions by the end of November,
1955. It is intended to appoint a second teacher and to open two additional centres in
1956.
School Journeys
Arrangements for the medical and hygiene inspection of pupils before departure on
school journeys or visits to holiday camps were continued. During the year 22,400 such
examinations were carried out. The metropolitan borough medical officers of health
were asked to co-operate by forwarding information when infectious disease occurred
in a home from which a pupil had gone on a school journey.
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