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additional problems has frequently been rewarding in that coexisting
but undefined handicaps have been discovered. These
complicate the basic hearing handicap and call for special medical
and educational treatment. Speech disorders, emotional disorders,
social problems, mental retardation and brain damage have all
been found at comprehensive assessment to co-exist with deafness,
and the subsequent overall approach to treatment helps to minimise
the child's overall handicap.
The Ascertainment Team now meets at least once a term.
This year we have had meetings in May, July, November and
December at which a total of twenty-eight children was discussed.
These meetings are useful in providing a medium for discussion
of children with problems in addition to their hearing ones, for
medical officers, teachers of the deaf, educational psychologists
and speech therapists all attend as and when necessary to consider
each child as a whole child and how best to provide for him
educationally.
Also under the heading "Audiology Service" I am grateful
to Mr. D. R. Barraclough, Chief Education Officer, for the following
report on the service for the hearing impaired child:—
The Darrick Wood Unit for Deaf Children
The numbers of children at the end of 1970 were as follows:—
Junior Class 8 (including 2 from Bexley)
Infant Class 6
Nursery Group 6 (including 2 from Bexley)
Total 20
The majority of these children are severely or profoundly deaf,
who would probably be in residential schools if the Unit had not
been established. They are all integrated as much as is practicable
with hearing classes in the Infant and Junior Schools, thanks to
the continuing interest and co-operation of Mrs. Jordan and Mr.
Langley.
The Peripatetic Service
The numbers of children covered by the Peripatetic Teachers
of the Deaf at the end of 1970 were as follows:—
Pre-school children 6
Children in normal schools with hearing
aids 50
Other children with hearing defects in
normal schools 83
Children in residential placement 15
Children in day replacement outside the
Borough 12
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