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107
Report of the Principal School Medical Officer for the Year 1966
The 482 children were referred for examination by the assistant medical officers with the following
results:—
174 children were found to have normal hearing on clinical testing,
250 children were noted for re-examination,
11 children were referred to Ear, Nose and Throat Departments,
17 children were referred to General Practitioners,
4 children were referred to Audiology Units,
9 children were already attending hospital,
8 children were already attending Audiology Units,
9 children had left the area.
Vision Testing
The vision testing of schoolchildren at approximately the age of seven years continued throughout
the year. These tests are additional to those carried out at the time of periodic routine medical inspections.
They are conducted in school by the health visitor/school nurses. Vision tests are given also to
children aged between eight and ten, if for any reason it is felt to be necessary.

Of these:—
48 were referred to the Authority's ophthalmic clinics;
39 were referred for treatment via general practitioners, at the request of parents;
30 were deferred for re-examination at the School Health Clinics;
13 were considered to have normal vision;
19 were already having ophthalmic treatment;
4 left the area while investigations were proceeding.
Of the 48 children referred to the Authority's ophthalmic clinics:—
41 were prescribed glasses;
7 were noted for re-examination.
ORTHOPTIC CLINIC
The orthoptic service continued along the lines established in 1965. Early in the year it became
apparent that it would be necessary to change the weekly sessions from two to three because the
number of children referred for orthoptic examination and training had increased steadily.
A total of 76 new cases were seen during the year, most of whom were suffering from convergent
strabismus. Full details are given in the table on page 108.