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still treated by depot-injections (Alavac) and
allergists (e.g. Dr Pepys) encourage this
Five cases had these injections last year,
six during this year.
There is, however, the still unresolved
question if Intal, used as a preventive, could
replace hyposensitisation in children. It has
been found successful in patients who 'missed'
their injections as co-seasonal treatment So
far side-effects have not occurred with the
cromoglycates, though patients at times complain
of throat-irritation by the powdered spray. The
more severe cases seem to be refractory to
Intal'.
Hearing Clinic
The number of cases seen at the Hearing Clinic
during the year were 1,085 of which 371 were
new cases and 714 were cases seen for reexamination.
The practice of screening all children
entering primary school by screen audiometry
was continued. The children who failed the
audiometric test are referred to the school
medical officer who decides whether the child
should be retested in the school clinic or
referred for further investigation The number
of tests performed during the year is shown
in Table 1.

The children seen in the school clinics
for special audiometry were referred by school
medical officers, speech therapists and
general practitioners and from the school
psychological service as follows:-

A total of 521 earmould impressions were
taken by the audiometrecians during the year
for use with hearing aids, 69 Medresco aids
were issued and 263 Medresco aids were
exchanged or replaced. 11 commercial aids
were bought by local education authorities
during the year, of which 8 were of the post
aural variety. The Medresco post aural aid
became more freely available during the year
The children attending Hanworth and
Isleworth Training Centres were also screened
for a hearing loss by the audiometricians. a
total of 54 children were seen. It was not
always possible to obtain an audiogram from
these children, but an assessment of their
response to sound in free field was made Any
child who appeared to have defective hearing
was referred to the medical officer The
audiometricians also screened these children
for visual defects using the stycar vision
testing material, 32 children were tested
Any child having defective vision was referred
to the medical officer.
This year a peripatetic teacher of the deaf
was appointed to the staff of the clinic This
was a most welcome appointment and has
resulted in an increase in the number of home
visits of young children.
The teaching activities at the Hearing
Clinic have continued throughout the year
Medical students from St. Bartholomew's
hospital attended for instruction in the
techniques of audiology and groups of speech
therapists, health visitors and midwives have
also attended.
In April a meeting was held which was
attended by the medical and teaching staff
of the Hearing Clinic and also the Neasden
and Tottenham centres. This was of great
benefit to all who attended.
In June a three day course was held for
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