[Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, East Riding of Yorkshire County Council.

  • East Riding of Yorkshire (England). County Council
Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1955] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, East Riding of Yorkshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    61/80 (page 54)
    5^ are allinost identical with those of the previous year. Of the 1,562 individual ehildren attending', tOS were new cases and 1,154' attended for re-examination. Glasses were prescribed for the first time for 237 children, and a change of glasses was ordered in 473 of the cases re-examined. According to the records obtained from the various Hospital Management Committees through which all prescriptions have to be passed 705 children are known to have obtained glasses 'during the year. Glasses were obtained from the opticians chosen by the parent. The services of an orthoptist were availalble at the York County Hospital, and fourteen dhilklren made thirty-six attendances at this clinic. EAR, NOSE AND THROAT DEFECTS The total number of children referred for treatment of ear, nose and throat defects was 3)23, and of these 227 were referred to hospital for removal of tonsils and adenoids. Otitis media and catarrhal conditions of the upper respiratory tract are still commonly found among school children. These condi- tions account for a considerable proportion of the children seen at minor ailment clinics. The presence of enlarged adenoids associated with nasal catarrh is probably a major cause of absenteeism from school, as children thus affected appear bo be very 6usce]>tible to recurrent colds and their complications. Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeons are now more conservative in their treatment for enlarged tonsils and adenoids, but despite this, a total of 705 sch'ool children received operative treatment for nose and throat defects, the great majority being tonsillectomy and adenectomy. The waiting lists for tonsillectomy are still fairly long and in this area a child may wait up to 1'6 months before the necessary operation is carried out. DEFECTIVE HEARING This authority makes use of pure tone audiometers to assess deafness In sdhool children and every effort is made to test alll infants during their first two years in school. No: special audiology centres have been arranged as this would nPt be a practical solution to the problem of ascertainment in a rural County. Eleven school nurses have received instruction in the use of the pure tone audiometer and carry out routine audiometrie bests on school children. This testing is carried out on school premises in the more rural parts of the County, but Where possible school cli'niic premises are used. When any abnormality is found by a nurse the case is referred to a medical officer experienced in audio- metric work and a further test is carnied out to ascertain as accurately as possible the degree and type of deafness. After this further examination all deaf and partially deaf childiren are referred to a Consultant Aural Surgeon. All children with a hearing loss of 20 decibels or more are reviewed periodically. In one area school