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14
between the School Eye Clinics and the Mayday Eye Unit, since the
appointment of Mr. Dermot Pierse as Consultant Ophthalmologist to the
Committee allows him to exercise a general oversight of both services.
Defects of Ears, Nose and Throat
The number of children found to be suffering or to have suffered from
middle ear disease (otitis media) showed an increase for the fourth
successive year. Indeed, during the last four years the number of such
defects has increased by 50%. Previous reports have emphasised the
significance of the rising incidence of this serious condition (1966, page
13; 1967, page 13; 1968, page 14). It is noteworthy that the number of
hearing defects in 1968 also shows a significant increase (Table 3), since
disease of the middle ear is likely to affect the child's ability to hear.
It was helpful therefore to have a visit during the year from Mr. H.M.
Parsons, the Committee's Consultant Otologist, who gave a talk to the
medical officers on a related medical condition with the descriptive title
of "Glue Ears". This is a condition which has emerged since the treatment
of otitis media with antibiotics, and it has many features similar to
middle ear disease. Although the cause of the condition is not fully
understood, its treatment is now clearly determined, and it is helpful to
know how the condition can be recognised in its early stages when treatment
will result in a dramatic improvement of hearing.
There was an increase in the number of National Health Service
(Medresco) hearing aids which were issued to school children during the
year with a compensatory reduction in the number of commercial hearing
aids purchased by the Committee. The decision to issue head worn
Medresco hearing aids to older children was welcome, and arrangements
were made for the children in the partially hearing unit for secondary
pupils to be fitted with such aids as a single group. The need for automatic
volume control on hearing aids for some school children will still
make it necessary for the purchase of some commercial hearing aids, and
it is hoped that this provision will soon be available on hearing aids
issued to children by the National Health Service.
Defects of Heart and Circulation
There was no significant change in the pattern of these defects during
the year.
Defects of the Lungs
The number of lung defects shows a marginal increase, but a significant
trend towards their treatment rather than their observation by the
school medical officer. Increased attention has been directed towards
bronchial asthma following the recognition of an increased mortality in
school children associated with the use of pressurised aerosols. Surveys
in various parts of the country suggest that bronchial asthma in children
is relatively common especially in association with respiratory infection