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WEST HAM SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF
The capacity of this school, which also takes children from East Ham and contiguous
areas of Essex is 120 and the maximum number of children on the roll during the year was 83,
including 59 extra-district children. Of the 93 children in attendance during the year,
22 West Ham cases and 51 extra-district cases were regarded as deaf and 7 West Ham cases and
13 extra-district cases as partially deaf and suited for instruction with hearing aids.

The extensive audiometric surveys have confirmed a number of children with hearing
loss. The defect is known to parent and teacher, and can be relieved or improved by
medical treatment, favourable position in class, and in some cases provision of a hearing
aid. It is only rarely that the parent or teacher discovers a partially deaf child for whom
special educational treatment in a special school is necessary. Late-deafened pupils, that
is, children who had become deaf after they had acquired speech and language, fall into the
partially deaf category. The speech of a child deafened as a result of meningitis will
deteriorate or be lost, however many years of speech he had known prior to his illness,
unless early and energetic steps are taken to avert the decline.
WEST HAM RESIDENTIAL OPEN AIR SCHOOL, FYFIELD.
During the year 47 West Ham boys and 17 West Ham girls were admitted and 75 West Ham
boys and 39 West Ham girls were discharged. Of extra-district children 13 boys and 3 girls
were admitted and 29 boys and 7 girls were discharged. The West Ham children are reinspected
by the area medical officers a few months after they leave the school to ascertain if their
improvement has been maintained. Of the 96 who attended for examination 87 showed continued
improvement, but 9 children had not maintained their condition. During the year the Chief
Assistant School Medical Officer made five visits to the school for the purpose of reinspecting
the pupils and carrying out immunisations.
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