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65
The opportunity was taken to review the clerical and administrative
arrangements of the service and improved methods were
devised for recording results. There was a further temporary
delay due to a minor fault in the pure tone audiometer which
was out of action for a few weeks.
Number of children tested during the year 2,064
Number of children with hearing loss 135
FOOT HEALTH
Routine foot inspections have continued during the year in
the maintained schools. By the end of the Summer term 1953,
two inspections will have been made in all schools established
before 1950 as well as a first visit paid to the schools recently
opened.
Visits are made by Mrs. Murton, a State Registered Nurse,
and there is close co-operation with the Head Teachers who
appreciate the importance of this care. Children with defects
requiring treatment or advice are seen at special foot clinics at
which parents are invited to attend. The parents co-operation
is essential as so many of the defects arise from wearing ill-fitting
or outgrown shoes.
The parent is also asked to ensure that the child regularly
carries out any exercises suggested and has any suggested modification
of the shoes.
A table is attached giving the number of routine inspections
performed during the year (8,759).
A total of 4,560 defects were found, i.e. 52% of children had
some defect :
43.3% had a defect of the toes.
6.7% of the arch, and
1.9% had some infection.
Defects tend to increase with age, this was strikingly shown
with defects of the toes which increased from 23.1% of infants to
60.1% of seniors.
Infections, too, were more frequent in the seniors than the
younger children, but this was a much smaller problem, i.e. only
3.6% of seniors infected and none of the infants.
The defects of the arch do not appear to be related to age,
i.e. (8.4%, 6.2%, and 6.4% in the three groups) and tend to
diminish slightly with the years. This is a much smaller problem
than was once thought.
The main problem is that of Hallux Valgus (bent big toe),
while the number of mild cases remains high the number of severe
cases have decreased with supervision and education.