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Screening Tests for Deafness, The function of the "Audiology Team" is to try to
make an accurate diagnosis in children who have been referred because of suspected hearing
loss and, if any considerable deafness is found, to arrange for the provision of a hearing
aid and for auditory training. In the infant this is largely carried out by the mother,
who herself requires training in the management of her deaf baby.
Unless there is a family history of deafness, the handicap is often not noticed
until the child reaches the age when he should speak. By then valuable time has already
been lost. Before a child can learn to speak he has to learn to listen and to imitate
speech. If this learning is delayed beyond the normal time, it becomes a much more
difficult and much slower precess, and good speech is never achieved. Very few children
are totally deaf and our services must be deployed in a way which will enable us to pick
out the child with hearing loss in infancy. We can then enable him to make the most of
his residual hearing and give him the benefit of early training. Much of the research
which has given us the knowledge and skill to find these children early, has been carried
out in the Department of Education for the Deaf at Manchester University. West Ham was
extremely fortunate when Professor and Mrs.Ewing from that Department accepted an
invitation to train our health visitors in "screening tests", which can be given when the
baby is nine months old. The Ewings visited us in May and in November, for two days on
each occasion, and the health visitors, medical officers and interested colleagues from
the hospital services were able to benefit from their unique knowledge and experience,
and very great skill in handling babies and pre-school children.

The number of children referred for "sunlight" treatment has increased considerably;
it is found to be a useful adjunct in restoring debilitated children to health, particularly
after infectious disease. Among the children referred for exercises there are some with
severe orthopaedic problems who need individual attention; the children with mild
disabilities are treated in groups.
The Care of the Handicapped Pre-school Child.
Present Position. While the School Health service devotes a great deal of attention to
the care of the handicapped schoolehild, much less attention has so far been given to
the handicapped pre-school child, and there is little provision for his care. The
Education Acts do permit of ascertainment and speeial educational treatment as young as
two years and this is valuable for some children, such as those who are deaf and spastic.
It does not, however, go far enough and helps only those who need some form of educational
treatment for their disability before they reach normal school age. It does not extend
below the age of two years.
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