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Infants "at risk" are tested at a special clinical session by Dr. R.Y. Golder, Principal Medical Officer
(Maternity and Child Welfare). She tests these children, and those who are then suspected of being deaf,
are referred for further examination by Dr. Fisch.
The members of the audiology team work together very well. The team consists of the Consultant
Otologist, Medical Officer, Teacher of the Deaf, and Educational Psychologist. Decisions concerning
difficult children or children who present special problems are made by a joint consultation of the members
of the auaiology team. When the question of placement in the school for the deaf or one of the partially
hearing classes arises, the team is joined by the Headmaster of the Blanche Nevile School. Mr. Brown.
There was a great improvement concerning help with the psychological assessment of our patients,
and Miss Kidgell, Senior Educational Psychologist, frequently attends, and detailed discussion takes
place concerning children examined by her.
Over the past few years we found that there was a steady increase of children with hearing disorders
who also have an additional handicap or have multiple handicaps.
Recently we were able to pay closer attention to the problem of emotionally disturbea children.
Owing to special interest in the psychological problems of deaf children shown by some psychiatrists,
we were able to refer these children to a Department of Psychiatry, and received very valuable help. We
hope to increase this work considerably.
The two peripatetic teachers of the deaf found that during the past year the numbers of children for
training and parent guidance increased to such a degree that they were not able to cope adequately with
these numbers, and it seems that a third teacher will have to be appointed. The early training of the
pre-school child with hearing difficulty and parent guidance is the most important aspect of our work.
The teachers also visit regularly children with hearing difficulties who are in normal schools, special
centres, normal nurseries or training centres.
Many deaf children are placed in normal day nurseries. This is a great advantage to us, and helps
the children to a very great extent. Almost invariably we find that the staff of these nurseries are
enthusiastic and most co-operative concerning the special problems of deaf children, and we are most
grateful for their help".
The following is an analysis of the cases seen during 1966:Number
of cases seen:-
Age -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16+ Total
New cases 217 30 32 37 26 19 29 25 12 11 13 14 14 5 4 2 - 490
Re-examinations 14 25 20 18 34 14 18 33 15 22 19 18 19 13 18 18 5 323
Total 813
Pre-school children 457
Attending Infant and Junior Schools 253
Attending Senior Schools 103
Reason for referral among New cases:-
For diagnosis 237
Known to be deaf, examination before admission to
Blanche Nevile School 7
Immigrants to Borough known to be deaf 2
Partially-hearing, advice as to placement 5
Auditory training 1
"At risk" 221
Transfer from hospital out-patients departments 15
Advice as to placement where deafness might be the
cause of backwardness 2
Total 490
67 of the above referrals were from other London Boroughs
74