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who experience a much greater difficulty than they in making
themselves understood; whilst the more severely handicapped,
e.g. the cerebral palsied who are often excluded from party
invitations, found others with a handicap comparable to their
own. It was similarly encouraging for many parents.
Without the willing and valuable co-operation of Headmasters
and Headmistresses and the constant helpfulness of members of
the Health Department, the progress that has been made in the
establishing of this speech clinic would not have been possible;
and to them all, special gratitude is expressed.
Skin Diseases
Skin conditions are prevalent in school children, especially
warts of various kinds and fungal infections of the feet. Acne
is particularly prevalent in adolescence and due to the fact that
it can cause disfigurement it may also provoke psychological
effects by disturbing the development of normal social relations,
and can have a definite bearing on behaviour.
A recommendation has been forwarded from this Health
Area Sub-Committee via the County Council to the Regional
Hospital Board that regular Specialist Dermatological sessions
should be held at the Health Centre, Harold Hill to assist in coping
with this problem.
Audiometry
At the end of 1960 an audiometer was purchased to enable
the School Medical Officers to test children suspected of having
defective hearing. During the year 115 such tests were carried out
as follows:—
Referred from Routine Medical Inspections 30
Referred by Speech Therapist
Examined at request of Head Teachers 27
As a result of these tests six children were found to have
hearing defects requiring further investigation and arrangements
were made for them to be seen by a hospital consultant. Three
others were kept under observation and listed for re-testing at a
later date.
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