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sis of the results has re-affirmed how worthwhile such surveys
can be. A further survey of other age groups is in
progress at the present time. It is felt that in a Borough with
a school population of 11,662, audiometry should be a regular
part of the School Health Service, and it is hoped that
this will be possible in the future either by the provision of
an audiometer for exclusive use in the Borough or by
making adequate provision for the Borough within the ambit
of a wider scheme for the County as a whole. The Medical
Research Council's Committee on the Educational Treatment
of Deafness has considered the relative merits of group
audiometer and sweep-frequency testing of children with
defective hearing by means of the pure-tone audiometer and
has decided in favour of the latter. This method is also
replacing the gramophone audiometer in routine screening
tests of hearing and has much to recommend it. Not the
smallest advantage is that the sweep-frequency test can be
made in a small room which is usually more easily available
and a greater degree of quiet can also be ensured. The
method is also reasonably economical of time as compared
with the gramophone audiometer.
As from January, 1956, the intermediate periodic medical
examination, at present being carried out during the last
year of primary school, will be transferred to the first year
in the secondary school. This will allow for two assessments
in the primary school at 5 and 8 years respectively and two
in the secondary school at 11 years and school leaving age
respectively.
The opening of the new Grammar School and the Gravel
Hill School in 1955 will increase the responsibilities of the
School Health Service and may require some addition to
the medical and health visiting staff and any further extension
of the Bexley Technical School for Girls may have a
similar effect.
Once again it is my pleasure to acknowledge the excellent
co-operation that exists between headteachers, parents,
school medical officers and health visitors and to refer to
the work of the school enquiry officers whose reports on
families and individual children are instrumental in bringing
to our notice any departures from health as early as possible.
I have also to record the excellent team work of all
members of the staff on which the success of the School
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