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It is still hoped that when financial provision permits it will
be possible to appoint an Audiometrician to the staff of the
School Health Service. The Audiometrician would have time to
test the hearing of children more frequently and, perhaps more
important, to start testing at an earlier age than is possible at the
moment.
Two Assistant Medical Officers have particular responsibility
in this field and it is gratifying for me to be able to report as
follows on the development of the service now available in the
borough for the hearing-impaired child.
Our aims, in dealing with the hidden handicap of deafness,
are early recognition, comprehensive assessment, appropriate
treatment and periodic re-assessment.
(i) Early Recognition. The routine screening tests for vision
and hearing of eight-year-olds have already been mentioned.
Recently, a pilot scheme has been started whereby a sweep audiometric
test for hearing is also given to certain five-year-olds.
This is in addition to the already established screening test for
vision at this age, and, together with it, is incorporated into the
Routine Medical Inspection for school entrants.
In the context of our efforts at early recognition, it should be
mentioned that co-operation is shown to the Health and Welfare
Department's staff by all who deal with children, all of whom
through increasing awareness of deafness being the possible
cause of a child's failure to make progress, are now making
referrals more readily to the School Health Service on this
account.
(ii) Comprehensive Assessment and Appropriate Treatment.
There now exists good communication between the different
disciplines involved in the management of the deaf child which
ensures that the whole child in all his dimensions, not just his
deafness, is assessed and appropriately treated. This means
medical and educational care of his primary handicap, and of
any associated or secondary disability whether physical, mental
or emotional. Monthly meetings are held at Beckenham Audiology
Clinic, at which members of the various professions discuss
individual children.
(iii) Periodic Re-Assessment. This gives an opportunity of
measuring a child's progress and of planning ahead. We aim
to see all children at certain intervals, to make joint decisions
about placement at the various stages of their school career,
and we also hope to develop this, through liaison with the
Welfare Officer for the Deaf, into a helpful placement service
for school leavers.
I am grateful to Mr. D. R. Barraclough, Chief Education
Officer, for the following report on the Service for hearingimpaired
children:—