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Defective Vision
By arrangement with the Executive Council treatment of defective vision and
squint can be carried out at local authority clinics. The total number of pupils treated for
defective vision, including squint, in 1970 was 1223 (1381).
Spectacles were prescribed for 484 (347).
Diseases and defects of ear, nose and throat
The total number of children treated for these defects in 1970 was 124 (122)
of whom 24 (5) had operative treatment mainly for tonsils and adenoids.
Orthopaedic Defects
Physiotherapy sessions for minor orthopaedic and postural defects are held at
clinics and in addition at Carew Manor Special School and the Junior Training Centre.
The total number of pupils treated in 1970 was 223 (348).
School Dental Service
The increase in the school population has created difficulties for the school dental
service especially in the area served by Shotfield Clinic. The increase in the number of children
on the Roundshaw Estate and their need for extensive dental treatment (73% of children in
need of treatment compared with the Borough average of 49.3%) has resulted in the routine
school inspections and good recail system at Shotfield being in arrears in spite of an increase
in dental staff at that clinic. With good dental health education and the hope of a new Health
Centre at Roundshaw the situation should improve.
There has been little difference in the number of children inspected and treated
or the number of teeth filled but the number of extractions has risen considerably. This is
most noticable in the age group 5 - 9 years where the number of permanent tooth extracted
rose from 29 in 1969 to 75 in 1970.
Health Visitors have played an increasing part in dental health education, visiting
schools giving talks, showing films and demonstrating correct tooth brushing methods on models
made at the Health Education Centre. One school in the Borough had a Dental Health Week
with a poster competition and a play with a 'Toothy' ending written and acted mainly by the
children.
Statistical tables are given in the Appendix to this report.
Special Services
(a) Audiology
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.
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 partially 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.
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