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Vision Testing
The accurate recording of a child's vision is of primary importance
and every effort is made to obtain an as accurate as possible result in
all school entrants. Both rotating 'E' Card and the Sheridan-Gardiner
Cards are used. Doubtful results are carefully followed up by repeat
examinations either in school or at the clinic.
Vision is again tested at future periodic school medical inspections.
Ideally a child's vision should be recorded annually but this is not possible
at present. However, as a compromise, efforts are made to conduct a
biennial test of vision by having additional vision sweep tests carried out
by the health visitor/school nurse or clinic nurse. In order to test vision
by standardised procedures which are independent of the conditions of
test, a Keystone Telebinocular Vision Screener is in use—this machine
indicates near point and distance seeing ability easily and rapidly. Tests
for colour vision can be introduced for screening of the 11 year age group.
All pupils failing this screening procedure are referred to the ophthalmic
surgeon. The test tends to be very selective but this is not considered to
be a drawback.
Colour Vision
All children have a test for colour vision at their intermediate periodic
medical inspection. The importance of this test lies in the fact that children
with defective colour vision know at an early age that they will be unsuitable
for certain occupations.
Diseases and Defects of Ear, Nose and Throat
Children suffering from these defects are examined and treated either
at the minor ailment clinic or referred to family doctor or to hospital
out-patient departments for specialist advice, after prior discussion with
general practitioner.
Hearing in School Children
Gross defects of hearing are usually fairly obvious and appropriate
arrangements are made for the child's education. Lesser defects are not
so easily identified and can, if missed, interfere with a child's educational
progress. In or.ler to find these children, audiometer sweep tests are
carried out with the following criteria:-
(1) Children to have their hearing tested three times in their school
lives;
(2) Each child to have its first routine check of hearing not later than
the age of seven;
(3) Special cases (e.g. children failing to develop proper speech,
children suffering from cerebral palsy, children failing without
apparent reason to make progress at school) to be seen as
"specials".