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87
All children have a colour vision test at their intermediate periodic
medical inspection. This enables those who are found to have defective
colour vision to know at an early age that they will be unsuitable for
certain occupations when they leave school.
During the year 62 cases of disease of the eye (excluding errors of
refraction and squint) were treated. 1,450 children were seen by the
ophthalmologist and in 357 cases glasses were prescribed.
Four ophthalmic sessions are held each week, two at the Caryl
Thomas Clinic, and one at the Alexandra Avenue and Honeypot Lane
Clinics.
Orthoptic Clinic
An orthoptist attends the Caryl Thomas Clinic for two sessions each
week to deal with cases referred by the ophthalmologist which includes the
pre and post-operative treatment of squint.
Diseases and Defects of Ear, Nose and Throat
Children suffering from these defects are examined and treated either
at the school clinic or referred to family doctor or to hospital out-patient
departments for specialist advice, after prior discussion with the 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 six:
(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 now called to a special
Audiometry Clinic where a medical examination and further tests can be
carried out. Simple conditions, such as wax in ears, are dealt with at the
clinic, but a child with a more serious defect is referred to hospital for
specialist advice after prior discussion with the general practitioner. In
cases where no obvious cause can be found, further investigation is
arranged at the Neasden Audiology Unit in the London Borough of
Brent.