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19
Such common abnormal conditions as nasal obstruction, mouth
breathing, nasal discharge, deafness (in the absence of present or
previous discharge), frequent colds, recurring colds and sore throats,
etc. are in the main due primarily to defects in the nose and its
related accessory sinuses. These cases form a large proportion of
those children referred to the aural clinic. The essential thing
required in dealing with these various abnormalities is to make a
detailed examination, including the history, and a correct evaluation of
the signs and symptoms found so as to make an accurate diagnosis,
and then adopt the appropriate line of treatment. It is important
to remember that nasal defects of one kind or another are responsible
for a very large proportion of the impaired hearing found in
young children and it is only by a correct diagnosis of the cause
that cure or improvement in the hearing can be obtained. In this
connection it is interesting to know that sinus disease in a child can
cause a serious hearing loss and prompt treatment of the sinus
disease will effect a cure of the defective hearing. During the year
a certain number of cases of this description have had their hearing
restored by correcting the sinus trouble.
One of the most valuable forms of diagnosis and treatment for
a very large percentage of children with sinus disease is the Proetz
displacement method. It is vitally important here that the tech'
nique be carried out correctly and in detail as described by Professor
Proetz in order to get the desired results. For this reason all the
sinus displacement cases are treated during the course of the clinic
sessions. The importance of detecting and curing sinus disease in
children cannot be over-stressed. It is quite common and only too
frequently overlooked in hurried examinations. It can be responsible
for a number of symptoms such as nasal obstruction, deafness,
nasal discharge, recurring colds and sore throats, etc. which, while
infection of the sinuses is present, will not be cured by any measures
short of removing the sinus disease.
A large number of children suffering from certain common
nasal conditions such as mouth breathing, deafness, nasal obstruction,
rhinitis, etc. have been treated very successfully during the
year by the method of nasal diastolization, for many years employed
in this clinic and referred to in detail in previous reports. This is
an especially valuable treatment for deafness in children due to
nasal defects. An average course is about 15-16 treatments and it
must be carried out at the treatment clinics.
In the course of the year some children have been referred to
the clinic as possible suitable cases for removal of tonsils and adenoids.
Experience of the results of the all too frequent removal of
tonsils for various complaints, including colds, ' enlarged tonsils,
deafness, otorrhoea, mouth breathing, so-called nasal catarrh, rhinitis,
etc. confirms our decision to adopt a conservative line in the