[Report 1945] / School Medical Officer of Health, Manchester.

  • Manchester (England). Council.
Date:
1945
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1945] / School Medical Officer of Health, Manchester. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    20/44 (page 20)
    After the history has been taken and the ears, nose and throat inspected, the child is engaged in conversation so that any speech peculiarity may be noted. The pure-tone test is then carefully explained to him (and to the parent who is always allowed to remain in the room), and he is shown exactly what he must do when he hears the “ pips.” The hearing by air and bone conduction is then charted. These charts are always shown to the parent, since it has been found from experience that they are more likely to co-operate in carrying out any treatment advised if they have some understanding of the reasons why that particular treatment has been ordered. (In this connection it is gratify¬ ing to observe that the re-inspection cases attend most satisfactorily. Indeed their responses to the official notification compare very favour¬ ably with those of the new cases who sometimes have to be given two or three appointments, which entails a serious loss of clinic time.) Voice tests are then given, with back turned and facing, at 3 metres, and at 1 metre, as it has been found that these afford a valuable indica¬ tion of the child’s probable school hearing. Again this practical demon¬ stration is always of considerable interest to the parents, although it must be made clear to them that conditions are more favourable in the quiet clinic than in an ordinary classroom. It is possible to obtain reliable charts from most children of seven years old, and even from intelligent children of five and six, but where there is the least doubt a re-inspection in three or six months is ad¬ visable. Samples of the child’s performance in standard tests of reading, dictation, composition and drawing are usually obtained from school, and a report concerning his character and behaviour is requested. With all the information in hand it is then possible to decide which form of education is most desirable in each individual case, whether in a special school or in a normal school, and whether certain facilities such as lip reading, speech therapy, or a hearing aid, are necessary. All cases requiring expert treatment or opinion, who have not already been seen by the Consultant, are referred immediately to him, and all cases considered suitable are referred for admission to the School for the Deaf. Close relations are maintained with the Speech Clinic and with the Certifying Officers. It would be of considerable value to the children, and to the work, if it could be arranged not only to follow up the cases by personal interview and observation in the ordinary schools, but also in the various special schools to which the children are sent. Better opportunities for the partially deaf are ur¬ gently needed, and increased facilities for their vocational training and subsequent placement in industry. (Signed) MARY D. SHERIDAN SPEECH THERAPY This treatment is given in the building of Stretford Road School Clinic, Hulme, and is in the charge of Miss F. M. Ashworth, b.a. Miss Ashworth makes the following report on the work of the Speech Clinic for the year 1945 :—