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59
AUDIOMETRY
This scheme provides for the routine testing by pure-tone audiometer of every schoolchild's hearing
three times during their school life, normally at the ages of 6, 9 and 13 years. A "sweep" test is carried out
in the first instance in school and failures are then retested at clinics under more favourable conditions.
Children failing a second time are then referred to the School Medical Officers for further investigation.
Special cases (e.g. children who fail to develop proper speech, fail without apparent reason to make
progress at school) are also tested at the request of Medical Officers, Speech Therapists, Educational Psychologists
and Head Teachers.

CHIROPODY
In the school health service foot education is being developed very extensively with emphasis on preventive
work.
Film strips are shown and talks given in Schools as there is no doubt that the great majority of foot
conditions begin in childhood, and evidence of future defect can be seen sometimes at quite an early age,
for example Hallux Valgus, and hammer toe.
Verrucae, corns, fungus infections, and nail troubles are common, but apart from the early treatment
of foot disorders, one of the greatest needs of the young, is an understanding of the importance of foot
hygiene, and good shoe fitting. Children could thus be brought to adolescence with healthy, strong feet, and
should they later treat them badly, the well cared for foot, would withstand ill-usage and resist the deformities
from which so many young adults suffer at the present time.
Advice on shoe fitting is given at school talks and always, after these visits by the Chiropodist to the
schools, many children come to the Clinics for treatment for foot troubles from which they had not realised
they suffered.
There is no doubt that there is plenty of scope for development in the education of young people
in the care of their feet, which being hidden are often neglected.