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Is developmental screening beneficial?
Pub/. llhh. Load. (1980) 94, 329-330
Letters to the Editor Is Developmental Screening Beneficial? Dear Sir, We refer to your editorial in the January 1980 edition of Public lfealth and in particular to that part relating to the screening of hearing-impaired infants. Whilst the comments may have some ~validityin Areas where there is inadequate liaison between the Area Health Authority and the Local Education Authority. the opposite is the case where such liaison and goodwill exist. Evidence from work carried out in this Area since reorganization, and in the former County of Worcestershire for many years prior to that. has shown that early diagnosis with immediate and continuing educational support produce a marked improvement in overall performance of even severely deal" children, to the extent that the majority of them are able to make ve~, satisfactory progress within normal Local Educational provision. We have videotaped evidence to support this statement and would be delighted to show it to anyone who is interested. It is, nevertheless, important to differentiate between the hearing-impaired child on the one hand, and the hearing-impaired child with additional handicaps on the other. In the light of present knowledge and experience, we find it extremely discouraging and disturbing that your editorial should virtually dismiss in such a negative manner the provision which should be available to all children, particularly as you admit that your view is based entirely on anecdotal evidence, whilst ignoring evidence such as that available in this Authority and in other parts of" the country. In view of the high esteem in which your journal is justifiably held, we hope it will be possible for you to publish this letter in full, particularly as 1980 has been designated as "The Year of the Deaf Child "'.
Head of Services for Hearing-impaired children, Hereford and Worcester local Education authoriO' Specialist in communio, medicine, Hereford and Worcester Area lteahh Authority
E. ~q. S'I'ASTON ALU~ LLOYD-JAMES
Editor's Note Such enthusiasm is most commendable. IfDr Alun Lloyd-James or any other reader has hard evidence that profoundly deaf children ascertained at eight months by distraction test have achieved appreciably better communication than a group with equal degree of deafness, but who were not diagnosed until the parents came to suspect it, and care to write up their study, I shall be delighted to publish it. It is the general experience that children with some usable residual hearing can be taught to speak, and be taught in ordinary schools. In the absence of residual hearing this is seldom possible. It is all too easy to compare groups with different degrees o f impairment and produce misleading results. For this reason there is a real need for well-designed studies capable of withstanding critical appraisal, to demonstrate which o f our current procedures are in fact of value. I asked a question, but unfortunately it was one which cannot be answered.by videotapes of a few children. Do We need Qualified Assistants in Chiropody? Dear Sir, A situation has existed in the Chiropody Service For a number of years of a chronic shortage of"State Registered Chiropodists. This has resulted in many cases of elderly patients waiting years for treatment.
Letters to the Editor Is Developmental Screening Beneficial? Dear Sir, We refer to your editorial in the January 1980 edition of Public lfealth and in particular to that part relating to the screening of hearing-impaired infants. Whilst the comments may have some ~validityin Areas where there is inadequate liaison between the Area Health Authority and the Local Education Authority. the opposite is the case where such liaison and goodwill exist. Evidence from work carried out in this Area since reorganization, and in the former County of Worcestershire for many years prior to that. has shown that early diagnosis with immediate and continuing educational support produce a marked improvement in overall performance of even severely deal" children, to the extent that the majority of them are able to make ve~, satisfactory progress within normal Local Educational provision. We have videotaped evidence to support this statement and would be delighted to show it to anyone who is interested. It is, nevertheless, important to differentiate between the hearing-impaired child on the one hand, and the hearing-impaired child with additional handicaps on the other. In the light of present knowledge and experience, we find it extremely discouraging and disturbing that your editorial should virtually dismiss in such a negative manner the provision which should be available to all children, particularly as you admit that your view is based entirely on anecdotal evidence, whilst ignoring evidence such as that available in this Authority and in other parts of" the country. In view of the high esteem in which your journal is justifiably held, we hope it will be possible for you to publish this letter in full, particularly as 1980 has been designated as "The Year of the Deaf Child "'.
Head of Services for Hearing-impaired children, Hereford and Worcester local Education authoriO' Specialist in communio, medicine, Hereford and Worcester Area lteahh Authority
E. ~q. S'I'ASTON ALU~ LLOYD-JAMES
Editor's Note Such enthusiasm is most commendable. IfDr Alun Lloyd-James or any other reader has hard evidence that profoundly deaf children ascertained at eight months by distraction test have achieved appreciably better communication than a group with equal degree of deafness, but who were not diagnosed until the parents came to suspect it, and care to write up their study, I shall be delighted to publish it. It is the general experience that children with some usable residual hearing can be taught to speak, and be taught in ordinary schools. In the absence of residual hearing this is seldom possible. It is all too easy to compare groups with different degrees o f impairment and produce misleading results. For this reason there is a real need for well-designed studies capable of withstanding critical appraisal, to demonstrate which o f our current procedures are in fact of value. I asked a question, but unfortunately it was one which cannot be answered.by videotapes of a few children. Do We need Qualified Assistants in Chiropody? Dear Sir, A situation has existed in the Chiropody Service For a number of years of a chronic shortage of"State Registered Chiropodists. This has resulted in many cases of elderly patients waiting years for treatment.