View report page

115
condition of the tonsils or adenoids. In the 32 cases in which the
doctor who referred the case to the specialist considered the tonsils
to be the cause of trouble, 16 were recommended for operation,
7 were referred for a further period of observation, and 9 were
diagnosed definitely as not requiring any surgical treatment.
Politzerisation.
This treatment was recommended in 24 new cases and 23 old
cases; and of these 47 cases, only 2 old and 2 new did not improve
in hearing as a result. The children attend a weekly session for a
prescribed number of treatments, and then have their hearing
re-tested to see what progress has been made. The weekly treatments
are given by the school nurse in charge of the Aural Clinic;
and the Aural Surgeon (Mr. Hillman) has been very pleased with the
results, particularly in cases of secretory otitis media.
Other Treatments or Investigations.
Cauterised at clinic 4
Antral lavage or other operation at hospital 9
Referred for X-rays 10
For pure tone audiometer test at hospital 19
For gramophone audiometer test at clinic 19
No child was notified from this clinic as deaf. Seven children
with deafness of one ear were advised to sit in the front row of the
class, reports being sent to the school for the information of the head
teacher and class teacher.
All children attending the Aural Clinic are seen as special
re-inspection cases when the school doctor visits their schools.
It is rather depressing that a small minority of children need
constant supervision to see that they have any recurrence of ear
or nasal trouble treated efficiently. This is particularly true of
children with a current otitis media of one ear. Children are found
with one ear blocked with pus, and quite a substantial loss of
hearing, who know quite well that they can have treatment at once
with good results if they will take the trouble to attend. It usually
means daily treatment for some weeks, and this is a drawback to
the older children; but an even commoner cause of failure to
attend is that, although swimming has been prohibited, they have
broken the prohibition and do not wish to confess to the cause of
the fresh attack. This is unfortunate, but understandable.