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Contact is also made with the parents and they are asked to complete a questionnaire
about their child's health. Those children who are considered to have physical or
behaviour problems are then the only children examined. It must be emphasized that such
a scheme will not reduce the total work-load, indeed the opposite is found to be the
case. Many consider it, however, a more profitable use of time in that only children
who have a need to be examined are in fact examined.
SCHOOL MEDICAL ROOMS
The gradual improvement in facilities in school medical rooms has continued as fast as
the financial situation has allowed.
SCREENING PROCEDURES
An important adjunct to the routine inspection of children is the frequest visiting
of schools by nursing or medical auxiliary staff for the purpose of screening large
numbers of children for defects. Such visits are made for the following purposes:-
(1) Audiometry
(2) Head Inspections
(3) Vision Testing
Audiometry
This is devised to detect even a slight loss of hearing at the earliest possible
opportunity which in certain cases may be before the child attends school. Normally the
first test is carried out shortly after admission to school and thereafter at two to
three-yearly intervals. Any loss of hearing is reported to the school doctor who will
examine the child to exclude some minor or temporary condition. Should he suspect some
more serious cause of deafness the child is referred either to his own doctor, to a
hospital ear, nose and throat consultant, or to the audiology unit at Heston. The
figures for testing during the year were:-
Children tested 14,982 (355 re-tests)
Schools visited 151
Children with hearing
loss 716
Head Inspections
The Council's policy of inspection of children's heads for infestation is that
examination takes place at six-monthly intervals except that, where a junior or secondary
school has been entirely free from infestation for two years, further examinations take
place less frequently at my discretion.
During 1970, 50,284 examinations were carried out, 451 cases of infestation were
found representing 0.69%of the children examined.
Vision Testing
Vision testing is carried out normally on five occasions during the child's school
life, namely at five, seven, nine, twelve and fourteen years of age. Three of these
examinations are linked with the routine medical examination and school nurses make
special visits to school for the other two. In special schools vision testing is carried
out annually.
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