View report page

It was proposed that child-minders should meet at regular intervals to discuss problems, have talks
and demonstrations, while the children in their care were occupied in an organised play session.
Questionnaires were sent to the child-minders, and as a result of these it was decided to set up a
child-minders group meeting at Park Lane Health Centre in 1970.
Detection of Hearing Defects in the Infant and Pre-school child - A 2 day course for health visitors
This course was organised by the health education section, under the direction of Dr. L. Fisch,
the Consultant Otologist at the Audiology Unit.
The course was mainly designed to give health visitors an insight into the detection of hearing
loss in infants and young children. 39 health visitors attended from Local Authorities in and near
London, in addition to two visitors from Holland.
The course was financially self-supporting as fees were charged to other Local Authorities seconding
staff. The venues were the Moselle Rooms at Tottenham Town Hall, and the Audiology Unit at
Blanche Neville School. Dr. Fisch, and Health Department staff including two peripatetic teachers
gave lectures and demonstration.
The course was considered a great success and it is proposed to run a similar one in November 1970.
"Notes on High Frequency Hearing Loss in Children" — This booklet produced by the Audiology
Team in co-operation with the Health education section is in its second edition. Other booklets
in the series "Talking to the Elderly Deaf" and "Uni-lateral Deafness" will be printed in 1970.
Objectives of the health education section - In general to communicate current knowledge of ways
in which to promote and maintain health in the individual and the community, and to encourage
the effective use of social services within the community.
In particular to enlist the support of the professionals within the Authority and others in authority
in the community as potential health educators, and to assist them with advice, aids, equipment,
plans, projects and syllabuses.
To participate, if appropriate locally, in national campaigns and projects mounted by central
departments, voluntary and charitable organisations.
Publications
An article entitled "Lead Poisoning among Children in Haringey" by Dr. W.T. Orton, Deputy Medical
Officer of Health, was published in "The Medical Officer" (1970, 123, 1470). It deals with a series
of four incidents of lead poisoning among five children in 1966. Their ages ranged from 22 months
to 13 years. All suffered from a tendency to eat substances such as earth, paint and wall plaster.
Modern paints with low lead content were shown to give only apparent protection if applied over
old paints containing high proportions of lead. There was evidence suggesting that wall plaster
could be a cause of poisoning despite its low lead content if consumed in large amounts. Very
high lead contamination was found in soil over a wide area which appeared to come from a number
of sources including dust from a battery factory, exhaust smoke from petrol motor engines, and
builders' rubble.
70