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During the year 10,651 children were examined at routine medical inspection
and none was found to come within the official category of unsatisfactory physical
condition, which is a summing up of the medical officer's opinion of the child's
physical fitness.
There are ten independent schools in the Borough. An independent school is
any school at which full-time education is provided for five or more pupils of
compulsory school age (whether or not such education is also provided for pupils
under or over that age), not being a school maintained by a local education authority
or a school in respect of which grants are made by the Secretary of State to the
proprietor of the school. Medical inspection is not provided by the Borough at such
schools but they are included in the scheme for B.C.G. vaccination.
Colour Vision
The Medical Examination at ten years of age includes a colour vision test by
the Ishihara method. Those found by the Ishihara plates to have a defect are
re-tested by Giles Archer Lantern Test. In certain occupations it is essential that
those employed are able to discriminate between colours accurately, and ten years
of age is an appropriate age at which to discover any colour defect likely to debar
a child's entry to such employment.
Ninety-nine children were found on the Ishihara test at routine medical inspection
to have a degree of colour blindness. Of the 138 tested by Giles Archer Lantern,
sixteen were found to be normal, 66 were found to be safe and 56 unsafe in relation
to certain standards for employment.
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 twelve or thirteen years of age. Those children who fail the test are 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
consultants.
During 1968, 14,036 children were routinely tested in school, and 528 were
found to have a hearing loss; of this number 176 were already known cases.
At the request of family doctors or school medical officers, 576 children had
special tests at clinics, and of the 248 found to have a hearing loss, 31 were known
cases. In addition, 2,234 re-tests were carried out for various reasons.
Many children had minor treatment for conditions affecting their hearing, while
of the 71 referred to the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinics, 22 were kept under observation;
eleven were referred to hospital for tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy; six were
referred to hospital for other treatment; 21 were treated at the clinic; ten required
no treatment and one child did not keep appointments.
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