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We continue with our regular Ascertainment Team meetings
(arranged on an interdisciplinary basis) which afford such a
splendid opportunity for making joint recommendations on hearing-impaired
children. We have already made reference to the
Speech Therapy Service, and it is a pleasure also to record the
equally close co-operation which exists between Medical Officers,
teachers of the deaf, and educational psychologists. We feel that
our combined efforts give meaning and practical application to
the holistic approach to the deaf child and we look forward with
enthusiasm to another year of team work in this field.
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
This Unit for hearing impaired children has now been
operating at Darrick Wood for just over two years and has
established itself as the educational provision for deaf children
in this Borough.

Previously the children under five years of age attended for
mornings only. All of them now stay for the full day, although
this can be rather long for three-year-olds. An initial settling-in
period of morning attendance only is recommended for these.
The children are integrated to varying degrees within the
normal hearing classes, thanks to the interest and support of the
staff of the Infant and Junior Schools. There is a wide range of
hearing losses within the Unit and flexible arrangements are