London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Sutton 1972
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Sutton]
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SPECIAL SERVICES
(a) Audiology
The early diagnosis of children with partial hearing loss is essential if normal progress
is to be achieved in the development of speech and the child's education.
The great majority of cases of deafness are diagnosed by hearing screening tests before
the child begins school. All children referred for speech therapy have a routine hearing
test at the audiology clinic prior to commencing therapy to ensure that they have not
in addition to their speech defect any hearing loss. This is carried out by the
Audiometrician but when the child is too young to co-operate they are tested by the
Audiologist.
All school children who show any defect of hearing on screening are referred to the
school medical officer who decides whether it is necessary for them to be referred
for further investigation and treatment.
I n cases where there is a severe loss of hearing, the pupil is referred to the 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 the most advantageous position
near the teacher.
The teacher for the deaf visits each school or unit at which a child attends who has a hearing loss to discuss the treatment and progress of each child with the head teacher. The co-operation of teachers in this respect is much appreciated.
| New cases supplied with hearing aids during 1972 | 7 | (10) |
| Pupils registered at having been fitted with hearing aids as at 31st December 1972 | 64 | (51) |
| Total number of children seen by Audiometrician | 2415 | (2477) |
| Number referred for further investigation | 103 | (136) |
(b) Speech Therapy
Speech therapy sessions are held at clinics and also at Carew Manor E.S.N. School,
Sherwood Park School, Observation/Diagnostic classes and classes for non-communicating
children at Queen Mary's Hospital for Children. In addition, a speech therapist attends an
independent school for E.S.N./Maladjusted children once a week.
It has become increasingly difficult to recruit the services of speech therapists
e^iecially to work with mentally handicapped children. It has only been possible to maintain
a service by the co-operation and help of the present staff.
The total number of children attending for speech therapy in 1972 was 239 (272).
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