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Dr. Dunham, consultant in physical medicine to the Unit, reports as follows on the year's work:-
"During the year. 37 children with cerebral palsy — "spastics" — attended the Vale Road School
for Physically Handicapped Children. They made up 41% of the pupils in the school. As in former
years the advice of a special consultant who visited the school each week and the services of a
special therapist who worked in the school each day were provided for these children as well as the
general medical care given by the school medical officer and the school nurse. A new therapy room
was equipped and brought into use.
But, in addition, the collaboration of the teachers and of the parents was enlisted to ensure
that, throughout their waking hours, the children were given the best possible opportunity not only to
achieve normal postures and movements in therapy but also to practise and make them a habit in
ordinary school and home life. Bearing in mind that the earlier in life a child comes under such
influences the better he is likely to respond. arrangements were continued for giving advice to parents
of children of pre-school age. These facilities are still insufficiently used. Perhaps they are not
widely enough known.
Unfortunately facilities for metal work, woodwork and needlework in neighbouring secondary
schools are not now available, but thanks to the initiative of Miss L. Powell ana Mr. Coates of the
Tottenham Technical College, instruction in wigmaking has been added to the range of technical
training available to children at the school, and has been found suitable for children with a
surprisingly wide range of dexterity. It is hoped that in the future school leavers will be able to
have full-time training, and that this will provide a valuable addition to the list of careers open to
them."
Audiology Unit
The Audiology Unit is held within the curtilage of Blanche Nevile School for the Deaf, and there
is excellent co-operation between medical and teaching staff. Four sessions are held each week and
the Unit serves the London Boroughs of Enfield and (part of) Barnet as well as Haringey.
Arrangements are made for the regular supervision of children with hearing defects who attend
ordinary schools, and of partially-hearing pre-school children. Many of these children wear hearingaids.
For this purpose, two full-time peripatetic teachers of the deaf work in close co-operation with
Dr. Fisch, the Consultant Otologist, covering both the London Borough of Haringey and the area
outside the Borough which is served by the Unit. The peripatetic teachers also pay regular visits to
pre-school age deaf and partially-hearing children in their homes or day nurseries, for supervision
and training. It is hoped that a third peripatetic teacher will be appointed during the coming year.
Dr. L. Fisch reports as follows on the work of the Unit::-
"During this year major changes in staff of the clinic have occurred. Both peripatetic teachers
of the deaf, who were on the staff for several years, resigned. Miss Abbott was appointed as a
lecturer at the Institute of Education in the department for training teachers of the deaf. Mrs.
Gregory resigned because she was expecting a baby. We were fortunate to obtain the services of two
new excellent teachers, Miss Brinson from the School for the Deaf, and Mrs. Robertson, from the unit
for partially deaf children. There was a change of the headmasters of the School for the Deaf.
During part of 1968 the deputy Headmistress, Mrs. Oliver, helped us very effectively with our work.
Miss Kidgell, senior psychologist, who was a member of the audiology team for several years, has
retired. Fortunately, full team work was soon established again when new appointments were made.
Assessment of the children by the audiology team
Assessment of children is carried out normally by the team consisting of the otologist, medical
officer, teacher of the deaf and audiometricians. Whenever there is a need for special education in
schools for the deaf or classes for partially-hearing children, the Headmaster of the School joins the
team. The psychologist attends as frequently as possible for discussion of particular children.
Accommodation
The main deficiencies at the clinic as far as accommodation is concerned, that is. the lack of an
observation room with facilities for one way observation, and the lack of an adequate waiting room,
still remain.
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