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55
DEAFNESS
The development of the electronic hearing aid has made the
early detection of deafness of great importance. The younger
the child when the diagnosis of deafness is first made, the
greater the possibility of compensating fully for this handicap.
It is an important duty of the Audiology Unit, as described in
the School Health Service, to deal with the ascertainment of
deafness in babies as soon after nine months of age as possible.
Where there is a family history of deafness, or a history of
certain complications of pregnancy, or of the confinement, or of
illness during the early weeks of life, deafness is more likely
to occur. Doctors, midwives and health visitors have been asked
to notify to the Health Department, the names of babies with
such a history. At the end of the year, a list of 60 names had
been recorded. 15 have been examined, of whom 10 were under one
year of age, 11 were found to have normal hearing, 2 were
probably not deaf but are to be seen again, and two were thought
to have significant hearing loss. They were twins aged years
and were referred because of failure to learn to speak, and behaviour
problems. Appropriate treatment and auditory training
commenced, and at the time of writing they are reported as
greatly improved in behaviour and beginning to speak.
We hope in the future that such cases will be found at about
nine months of age and not 4 years later.
CHIROPODY SERVICE
There were some difficulties in establishing this service.
Individual Pensioners' Associations had more or less informal
arrangements with local Chiropodists for treatment for their
members at concessionary rates, but there were no organised
facilities covering the borough. Members of the Health Committee
met representatives of the Society of Chiropodists and after a
good deal of thought had been given to the matter, a scheme based
on the use of Chiropodists' own premises was drawn up. The
details are set out in Appendix
All Chiropodists known to be practising in Croydon were invited
to join by public advertisement and direct approach. By
August, 14 Chiropodists qualified in accordance with the
Regulations began operating this scheme. No major difficulties
arose and arrangements were made with a Member of the Society of
Chiropodists not practising in Croydon to carry out examination
of premises, records and mode of practice of those
concerned. By the end of the year, a total of 1,255 treatments
had been given at a cost of £223.19.0d. Of these,the Corporation
Paid the whole cost for 238 and part cost of 1,017.
Further details are given in the Appendix, page 115.