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SPECIAL SERVICES
(a) Audiology Service
The early diagnosis of children with partial hearing is
essential if normal progress is to be achieved in the development
of speech and the child's education. The great majority
of cases are diagnosed by hearing screening tests before the
child begins school. Those children initially referred on
account of speech defects which may be associated with partial
deafness have a routine hearing test by the audiometrician
before speech therapy is commenced and all pupils have a
further screening test during their second year at school.
Those children who show any defect in hearing are referred to the
school medical officer who decides whether it is necessary for
them to be referred for further investigation and treatment.
Since the more serious cases of partial hearing are detected
before school age, only a small number of school children are
seen for the first time over the age of 5 by the audiologist,
only one in 1966. In cases where there is a severe loss of
hearing the pupil is referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist
and a decision made regarding the supply of a hearing aid.
In a small number of cases the pupil is considered sufficiently
handicapped to require special educational treatment at a
partial hearing unit or special school for the deaf. In the
less serious cases it may only be necessary to request the
head teacher to make certain that the pupil sits near the front
of the class and in those cases with loss of hearing in one ear,
be placed with the good ear towards the teacher. The co-operation
of teachers in this respect is mueh appreciated.
5 (11) new cases were supplied with hearing aids during the year
1966 and a total of 47 (48) pupils are registered as having been
so fitted. The total number of children seen by the audiometrician
was 1935 (2433) of whom 155 (200) were found to have defective
hearing of varying degree and referred to the school medical
officers for further investigation.
(b) Speech Therap.V
Speech Therapy Clinics were held at :-
Priory Crescent Clinic, North Cheam
Rochester Road Clinic, Carshalton
Green Wrythe Lane Clinic, Carshalton
Shotfield Clinic, Wallington
Robin Hood Lane Clinic, Sutton
There is a national shortage of speech therapists and
it has been necessary to employ all the speech therapists on a
part-time basis. The total number of children attending for
speech therapy during 1966 was 148 (155) of whom 62 (22) were
discharged as cured and 22 (17) discharged as greatly improved.
One of the speech therapists carried out 4 sessions weekly
at Carew Manor E.S.N. School.
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