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Throughout this branch of public health work there has been increasing interest in the assessment
of babies' development and the techniques for doing this have spread steadily during the year. With
training and experience it is possible for medical officers to predict a child's capabilities earlier than
was usual in the past and where these appear to be abnormal early action may help to give the child
better opportunities to reach his best potential.
All children are examined at regular intervals but special attention is given to those whose type
of birth or early life suggest that they are liable to have defects.
The following table shows the conditions where special observation is made:-
Analysis of Children on Observation Register
Categories of Observation
Deafness of genetic origin in parents or siblings 40
History of maternal rubella in first four months of pregnancy 8
Gestation 36 weeks or less 181
Birth Weight under 4lbs 21
Moderate or severe birth asphyxia 321
Difficulty in sucking or swallowing 24
Failure to thrive not explained by simple feeding problems 44
Convulsions 4
Cyanotic attacks or severe apnoeic spells 9
Abnormal neurological signs in neonatal period 27
Haemolytic disease of the newborn or hyperbilirubinaemia 160
Any congenital abnormalities 144
Late 85
Late intake 1
Total number of defects on the Observation Register 1.069
Changes were made in the conditions in July 1967 as too many children were added to the list.
Since July the following figures apply:-
Number of children born 2,788
Number placed on observation register i.e. 30% approx. 860
This figure is still too high and further reduction is planned. In some conditions there is a
particular risk of deafness and as we are fortunate in the Borough to have a fully equipped audiology
unit children suffering from these conditions were tested there. 231 children were examined at the
audiology unit as well as at the normal child health sessions.
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