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168
dealing exhaustively with the nature, diagnosis, prevalence, causes and
prevention of deafness ; and the following is a brief summary of the recommendations:—
(1) The Ministry of Health should urge upon Local Authorities under the
Maternity and Child Welfare Act to give close attention to the early
and continuous treatment of infants suffering from ear defects in order
to prevent the havoc of deafness and deaf-mutism which are certain,
otherwise, to ensue during school age and adult life.
(2) The Board of Education should present to Local Education Authorities
the magnitude and seriousness of the problem of deafness and invite
them:—
(a)To improve their arrangements for the detection of defects of
hearing by the use of suitable acoumetric apparatus in the course
of routine medical inspection with a view of ascertaining the incidence
of deafness in cases many of which appear not to come to
light under the methods now adopted, that is to say, by the
whisper and watch tests.
(b) To bring and keep under treatment all cases of detected ear defect
under the supervision of medical practitioners with adequate
otological experience.
(3) That the Board of Education should, through its inspectorate, or
wise, emphasise before Local Education Authorities the detriment
to the deaf and dumb child of delay in the beginning of education and
urge upon them the need of an early commencement in all cases.
(4) That an agreed standard should be laid down to be applied in all cases
presented for admission to a school or class for the partially deaf,
and that the matter be referred by the Board of Education for investigation
to a competent body of otologists.
(5) That the services of an expert interpreter should be sought in all deaf
and dumb cases coming up for certification where there is any suggestion
of mental deficiency or incapacity.
Ministry of Health Circular 1,337a.
Acting on the suggestions contained in (1) and (2) above, the Minister
of Health has issued Circular 1,337a to Maternity and Child Welfare
Authorities in order to draw attention to the necessity for—
(a) The early and effective treatment of ear disease resulting from infectious
diseases such as measles, scarlatina, diphtheria and meningitis; and
(6) The particular observation and treatment of nose and throat defects.
The Minister suggests that the Maternity and Child Welfare Authority will
take into consideration at an early date—
(1) What use can be made of existing facilities (e.g., infant welfare centres
and health visiting) and what additional measures are necessary in
their area to ensure the early detection of these defects and diseases
in infants; and
(2) What arrangements can best be made for providing the necessary
treatment.