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Screening Procedures
The following screening procedures are carried out:
(a) The Guthrie Test at 6 days old for phenylketonuria.
No cases were detected in 1972.
(b) Cystic Fibrosis at 3 to 4 months of age in conjunction with Queen Mary's
Hospital for Children, Carshalton. No cases were detected in 1972.
(c) Hearing test at 6 to 8 months. 30 cases were referred to the Audiology Clinic
for further investigation.
(d) Sickle Cell Anaemia - a condition found in coloured children. Of the 35 children
screened one was found to be suffering from sickle cell anaemia.
Research continued in the borough in the following projects :
(1) National Survey of Health and Development
(2) Spina Bifida Survey (G.L.C. Research and Intelligence Unit)
(3) British Births Survey (British Births Child Study, St. Mary's Hospital Medical School)
(4) Survey of Childhood Cancers (Juvenile Cancer Registry).
(5) Congenital Rubella.
Audiology Clinic
Children under 5 years of age are referred to the Audiology Clinic for a more detailed
examination of their hearing in the following circumstances:
(1) Children failing their screening test of hearing at 6 to 8 months of age.
(2) Any baby whose mother has a history of rubella in pregnancy.
(3) Where there is a family history of deafness.
(4) All children with slow speech development.
(5) Any child suspected of a hearing loss.
(6) Any child who has had rhesus incompatibility at birth.