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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 order 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 then
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".
Children failing a sweep audiometer test are called to the school clinic,
where a full puretone audiometric test is given, followed by a medical
examination to exclude any pathological condition which might be the
cause of deafness. Simple conditions, such as wax in ears, are dealt with at
the clinic but a child with more serious defects is referred to hospital for
special opinion. In cases where no obvious cause can be found, further
investigation is arranged at the Audiology Unit at Neasden in the London
Borough of Brent.