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Hearing
All children have their hearing tested in school by sweep pure-tone audiometer
three times during their school life, i.e. at school entry, at eight or nine years of
age and at 12 or 13 years of age. Those children who fail the test are generally
referred to the school medical officer for investigation. Children requiring further
investigation and treatment are referred to the family doctor or to the ear, nose and
throat consultant. During 1966, 12,246 children were routinely tested in school,
and 520 of these were found to have a hearing deficiency. In addition 451 tests
were carried out on specially referred children and 226 of these were found to
have a hearing deficiency. A further 2,387 re-tests were carried out for various
reasons. As a result of this many children had minor treatment for conditions
affecting their hearing. Of the 110 referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic, 63
were kept under observation; 22 were referred to hospital for tonsillectomy/
adenoidectomy; three were referred to hospital for other treatment; seven were
treated at the clinic; eight required no treatment; in six cases no treatment was
possible; and one appointment was not kept. Two of the 110 children were issued
with hearing aids.
At the Technical Colleges 324 audiometric tests were carried out, and 13
students were found to have a hearing deficiency. Of these, two were already having
treatment, six were advised to consult their family doctor, and one, when referred
to hospital, was provided with a hearing aid. Four had left before appropriate
action could be taken.
Foot Inspections
School nurses make regular foot inspections to discover the presence of plantar
warts and other contagious skin conditions of the feet. Plantar warts can be contracted
wherever children walk barefooted, particularly in damp conditions. A
reputed increased prevalence of these warts amongst school children attending one
of the swimming baths in the Borough was not substantiated on investigation, but
it was recommended that foot inspections of children by swimming instructors be
further encouraged, that an iodine footbath preparation be used at the baths, and
that other hygienic measures be instituted. At the request of the Education
Committee an illustrated pamphlet was prepared for issue to school children and
consideration was given to the display of an appropriate poster within the baths.
(See Statistical Tables 45, 46, 47 and 48.)
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