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Vitamin C. Another interesting fact brought to light by the survey is that these young babies
Were nearly all receiving an insufficient amount of Vitamin C. This should be remedied
because, although there are few cases of frank scurvy seen'in this country, there are many
vegue conditions which may be caused or aggravated by Insufficient Vitamin C.
A baby fed on dried milk receives no Vitamin C in his feeds. After the first 2
to 3 weeks it is very important to give adequate amounts of orange Juice (suitably diluted)
rose hip syrup, blackcurrant syrup or other suitable preparation, or ascorbic acid in tablet
form.
The help and co-operation given by health visitors and medical officers in this
Survey is greatly appreciated and has enabled the department to obtain very valuable
tnfomation on which future advice can be based.
Andiology Unit.
The clinic, started in May 1955, has continued under the direction of Mr.C.J.Scatt,
consultant Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon. The Team, whose other members are 2 health visitors
with specialtraining, the audiometriclan, the Head Teacher of the School for the Deaf and the
Senior Assistant Medical Officer, Maternity & Child Welfare, has held 8 sessions at Maybury
Road welfare Centre. Close liaison has been maintained with the Educational Psychologist,
who has been asked to test children who appeared to be backward and who has in turn, referred
to the Team pre-school children whose behaviour during testing has suggested some impairment
of hearing.
Eight sessions were held during the year and 25 children were seen, 4 of whom were
examined on three occasions, and 2 were examined on two occasions. Of these 25 children
4 were deaf
1 partially deaf
4 required speech training
2 were placed on the waiting list for the removal of tonsils aind
adenoids
4 showed general backwardness (rather than Impairment of hearing)
5 were referred for further observation
3 were found to be normal
2 were found to be "behaviour problems".
The team are gradually improving their skills in the difficult technique of examining
these very young children. Home visits by the health visitors, and more prolonged observation
of the child in the nursery class of the School for the Deaf (for a few hours, or a whole day)
have been very helpful in enabling the Team to reach a conclusion about the child. In many
cases this conclusion can only be tentative, the child's development and response to training
must be kept under further prolonged observation. So far, most of the children referred to the
Unit have been "Toddlers". It is hoped that younger children will be referred when the work of
the unit becomes known and professional colleagues become more aware of the possibility of the
diognosis fo deafness in infancy. It is at this age, when the normal baby is learning to
listen to imitate, and to speak, that the result of guidance and training are more far reaching.