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Detection of Hearing Defects in the Infant and Pre-School Child — A two-day Course for Health Visitors
This was the second course organised by the Section, under the direction of Dr. L. Fisch, the Consultant
Otologist, at the Audiology Unit, Tottenham
The course is designed to give health visitors an insight into the detection of hearing loss in infants and young
children. Forty-two Health Visitors attended from Local Authorities in and near London, in addition three
visitors from Holland, a doctor, nurse, and psychologist, who hope to run a similar course, also participated.
Dr. Fisch, Health Department staff and two peripatetic teachers gave lectures and demonstrations. These were
held in Tottenham Town Hall, the Audiology Unit and Blanche Nevile School for the Deaf.
The booklet "Talking to the Elderly Deaf" produced by Dr. Fisch in co-operation with the section in 1970,
has had wide distribution throughout the country. "Notes on High Frequency Hearing Loss in Children" has
been reprinted.
Food Hygiene Courses
Following the talks on personal and food hygiene at the Prince of Wales's Hospital last year, the Health Education
Officer was requested to run a similar course for domestic staff at St. Ann's Hospital.
The talks were run in co-operation with the domestic supervisor and pathologist who appreciated that hygiene
standards had improved following the previous talks. It is hoped that this programme will be an ongoing series.
Cervical Cytology Publicity Campaign — April—August
One of the functions of the Health Education section is to publicise the local authorities' health services.
Cervical cytology tests at local authority clinics had declined as shown in table 1. In the first quarter of 1969,
tests were 365, and dropped to 254 in the same quarter of 1970.
At the beginning of the year it was decided to concentrate publicity in a limited geographical area to see whether
results could be improved. The area chosen was that served by Burgoyne Road Clinic, consisting of four roads,
bounded on one side by Green Lanes and on the other by Wightman Road.
The Haringey Women's Cancer Control Committee were approached and this small active group of six women
agreed to distribute application forms and literature.
The roads were divided into three groups (see table II). The 1970 electoral register was used so that the women
received a personally addressed envelope containing an application form and explanatory leaflet in English and
Greek. A large proportion of women in this area are of Greek-Cypriot origin.
Publicity was given in the local papers on the women's pages. Advertisements were placed in three local papers.
A Greek-Cypriot newspaper printed an article written by a Greek doctor on the Department's staff and these
papers were distributed in the Burgoyne Road Clinic and to the women in Group 3.
Summary
Results are shown in Tables II and III. Considering the number of leaflets and application forms distributed a
greater response might have been expected but if the number of 47 tests of 1968-69 (Table I) is compared with
the 154 tests taken during the three months of the campaign, one can consider it a reasonable increase.
Fortunately groups most at risk responded to the campaign, 59% were over 35 years of age, and 95.3% of the
total number were married (Table III). No positive smears were obtained but many other disorders were
discovered (Table IV) and these women were referred to their own doctors. During the sessions, advice and
appointments for family planning were made.
It is proposed to carry out a publicity campaign in 1971 involving the women patients in one particular doctor's
practice.
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