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4. Tuberculosis Case Finding Among School Entrants
Parents of 5 year old children who are due for their first routine
medical inspection at school, are invited to give their consent, in writing
to their child's participation in this scheme which has been in operation
in this Borough for eight years. The purpose of the scheme is to trace,
by applying a simple skin test to the child, instances of tuberculosis in
an adult which may not have previously been discovered.
The scheme is easy to operate and as the skin test is not done by injection
but by simplified apparatus, which does not frighten or cause the
child any inconvenience, the response is usually fairly high. This year
422 (68.6%) out of 615 participated. This represents a slight reduction in
comparison with the previous two years - 72.21% in 1960 and 71.7% in
1959.
Eight of the children tested gave a positive re-action to the test and
details were given to the Chest Physician so that family contacts could
be investigated. In no case was anything of significance discovered.
5. Child Guidance Service
There is a growing demand for psychiatric treatment for school children
and children from this Borough are referred to the clinic in High
Street, Walthamstow. Unfortunately there is a lengthy list of children
awaiting appointments and, except for cases of the utmost urgency
which are given priority, there is a delay of at least four months.
C. Defective Hearing
The importance of the early detection of the loss of hearing, however
slight, is apparent and I hope that in 1962 it will be possible to go a
long way towards testing the hearing of every infant child entering school
for the first time. I should like to see this done before the child starts
school so that any hearing loss can be fully investigated and possibly
alleviated before it becomes a handicap educationally. This could be
of tremendous value to the teachers: for instance, if a child known to
have normal hearing does not make progress educationally, then the
cause of the retardation must be looked for elsewhere.
The tests applied during the year fall into three categories and the
results are set out below under the respective headings :-
(i) Children considered to be 'At risk' (i.e. suspected to have
some loss of hearing)
Total No. referred 42
Results of test:-
Normal hearing 14
For observation (in 1962) 21
To ENT Consultant 7
Result of ENT Examination
No defect 2
Remove tonsils and/or adenoids 2
Some loss of hearing but no treatment required 3
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