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The Handicap of Deafness
1939
PUBLIC HEALTH
cussed at length, and the chapter dealing with the detection of deafness in the pre-school child emphasises The Hantlieap o! D~tness. By IRENE R. EWlNG, M.SC., the strong plea which the writers make for the earliest Ellis Llwyd Jones Reader in the Education of the possible detection and alleviation through education of Deaf, University of Manchester, and ALEX. W. E. the child. The tests of hearing-aid efficiency replace EwIN% M.A., PH.D., Honorary Special Lecturer in the hitherto almost complete lack of reliable information the Education of the Deaf, University of Manches- about the various types of apparatus available, and from ter. 1988. London: Longmans, Green & Co. a comparison between the frequency response curves of aids and the results of intelligibility tests, an estimate pp. 827 with illustrations. Price l~s. 6d. The handicap of deafness--is it really recognised as may be made of the benefit to different types of patients, it should be ? Superficially it sometimes may be, but while an analysis is shown of factors apart from total actually it more often creates in the onlooker a feeling deafness which have been found to prevent the successful of unsympathetic exasperation which is quite illogical. use of a hearing-aid. These matters, together with For if, as Adler has propounded, successful adaptation hearing curves and hearing-aids, are described with is essential for harmony of mind, it is painfully true that considerable detail~' The concluding chapters are devoted to education, many apparently normal people fail to attain it, and yet how much more difficult is any psychological adjustment education by the hearing-lip-reading method together for the deaf person, suffering immeasurable mental with consideration of the educational attainment of the struggles and becoming gradually excluded from social deaf, and this part of the book, linked up with psychointercourse until complete isolation threatens to over- logical problems and with vocational guidance and whelm him with almost virtual extinction. For without training, is excellent. If, as the authors say, this section early, effective and continuous help, that is the end- is designed to give hope, founded on facts and figures, then indeed they have succeeded. result. In short, a subject of national importance is dealt with But the challenge of the handicap of deafness is answered by this book, which is indeed a book out of by this book, which radiates inspiration as valuable as the ordinary ; for the authors, in giving a comprehensive the amazing amount of expert knowledge; it will be account of first-hand study through many years, include studied and enjoyed by a wide range of scientific and a wealth of information which has not hitherto been lay readers. And probably even more gratifying to the published or which has appeared somewhat scattered in authors than the immediate success which is assured, various scientific or educational publications. Such a will be the trail they have blazed through ignorance, marshalling of facts mark out the book, which will prove indifference, pessimism and despair, and the incalculable of great value as a work of reference for all those who benefits which this will bring to countless children and are responsible for the mental, social and educational adults. well-being of sufferers from defects of hearing. And Drainage of Buildings. By H. G. WARREN, A.R.I.B.A. furthermore what is most striking is the sympathetic 1988. London: Technical Press, Ltd. pp. 82. yet confident handling of the expert which can be felt Price 3s. 6d. net. throughout, permeating every chapter--the practical Although this small book is entitled " Drainage oj help and reasonable outlook, avoiding the extremes of facile optimism or of soul-destroying pessimism, the Buildings " it attempts to deal also with such subjects experience of ability to assist the deaf person to face his as " Water and Pumps," " W a t e r in motion" (the problem, th~demonstration of proven ways of alleviating information not being directly applied to the normal flow of sewage through drains) and " Sewage Disposal." the handicap. The attention given to the various subjects is disproIt is difficult to obtain a correct assessment of the portionate either to their importance or to the limited incidence of deafness, although with the increasing use of the gramophone audiometer in schools, more accurate space available. For example, while one chapter only information will become available; but even if total is devoted to the subject of " Drainage Systems," an deafness from birth may be on the decrease, the number exactly similar chapter is devoted to " Pipes "--stone of persons with imperfect hearing is far larger than is ware and cast iron--and a quite unnecessarily detailed generally supposed, and the interference with their description of visits paid by the author to works in which social efficiency is much greater than is at present they are made. Yet there is no mention of a British recognised. From the experience of the work in Standard Specification for these pipes. We feel that this book attempts too much in a small Manchester, it is seen that most deaf persons, although told that medical treatment could not assist them any space, and does little " toremove confused thought and further, waited until they were almost completely action," which presumably, from the preface, is its main isolated before attempting to obtain assistance by objective. hearing-aids and by lip-reading, and there was a preponderence of very deaf people among the cases. The Refuse Destructors and Separation. By A. W. Neal, A.I.E.E. 1988. London: Technical Press, Ltd. book seeks to emphasise the proved and invaluable help pp. 148. Price 10s. 6d. net. which can be obtained if only it is sought early enough, The object of the author of this book is to provide" a and dramatic as are the advances in the efficiency of modern hearing-aids, these must not obscure the practical statement on the principles of refuse disposal importance of lip-reading which should be more at a destructor." This he does very well. He recognises and explains the important part played by local conseriously encouraged. The detection and assessment of deafness are dis- ditions in the evolution of destructor systems and wisely
Book Reviews
125
PUBLIC HEALTH
cussed at length, and the chapter dealing with the detection of deafness in the pre-school child emphasises The Hantlieap o! D~tness. By IRENE R. EWlNG, M.SC., the strong plea which the writers make for the earliest Ellis Llwyd Jones Reader in the Education of the possible detection and alleviation through education of Deaf, University of Manchester, and ALEX. W. E. the child. The tests of hearing-aid efficiency replace EwIN% M.A., PH.D., Honorary Special Lecturer in the hitherto almost complete lack of reliable information the Education of the Deaf, University of Manches- about the various types of apparatus available, and from ter. 1988. London: Longmans, Green & Co. a comparison between the frequency response curves of aids and the results of intelligibility tests, an estimate pp. 827 with illustrations. Price l~s. 6d. The handicap of deafness--is it really recognised as may be made of the benefit to different types of patients, it should be ? Superficially it sometimes may be, but while an analysis is shown of factors apart from total actually it more often creates in the onlooker a feeling deafness which have been found to prevent the successful of unsympathetic exasperation which is quite illogical. use of a hearing-aid. These matters, together with For if, as Adler has propounded, successful adaptation hearing curves and hearing-aids, are described with is essential for harmony of mind, it is painfully true that considerable detail~' The concluding chapters are devoted to education, many apparently normal people fail to attain it, and yet how much more difficult is any psychological adjustment education by the hearing-lip-reading method together for the deaf person, suffering immeasurable mental with consideration of the educational attainment of the struggles and becoming gradually excluded from social deaf, and this part of the book, linked up with psychointercourse until complete isolation threatens to over- logical problems and with vocational guidance and whelm him with almost virtual extinction. For without training, is excellent. If, as the authors say, this section early, effective and continuous help, that is the end- is designed to give hope, founded on facts and figures, then indeed they have succeeded. result. In short, a subject of national importance is dealt with But the challenge of the handicap of deafness is answered by this book, which is indeed a book out of by this book, which radiates inspiration as valuable as the ordinary ; for the authors, in giving a comprehensive the amazing amount of expert knowledge; it will be account of first-hand study through many years, include studied and enjoyed by a wide range of scientific and a wealth of information which has not hitherto been lay readers. And probably even more gratifying to the published or which has appeared somewhat scattered in authors than the immediate success which is assured, various scientific or educational publications. Such a will be the trail they have blazed through ignorance, marshalling of facts mark out the book, which will prove indifference, pessimism and despair, and the incalculable of great value as a work of reference for all those who benefits which this will bring to countless children and are responsible for the mental, social and educational adults. well-being of sufferers from defects of hearing. And Drainage of Buildings. By H. G. WARREN, A.R.I.B.A. furthermore what is most striking is the sympathetic 1988. London: Technical Press, Ltd. pp. 82. yet confident handling of the expert which can be felt Price 3s. 6d. net. throughout, permeating every chapter--the practical Although this small book is entitled " Drainage oj help and reasonable outlook, avoiding the extremes of facile optimism or of soul-destroying pessimism, the Buildings " it attempts to deal also with such subjects experience of ability to assist the deaf person to face his as " Water and Pumps," " W a t e r in motion" (the problem, th~demonstration of proven ways of alleviating information not being directly applied to the normal flow of sewage through drains) and " Sewage Disposal." the handicap. The attention given to the various subjects is disproIt is difficult to obtain a correct assessment of the portionate either to their importance or to the limited incidence of deafness, although with the increasing use of the gramophone audiometer in schools, more accurate space available. For example, while one chapter only information will become available; but even if total is devoted to the subject of " Drainage Systems," an deafness from birth may be on the decrease, the number exactly similar chapter is devoted to " Pipes "--stone of persons with imperfect hearing is far larger than is ware and cast iron--and a quite unnecessarily detailed generally supposed, and the interference with their description of visits paid by the author to works in which social efficiency is much greater than is at present they are made. Yet there is no mention of a British recognised. From the experience of the work in Standard Specification for these pipes. We feel that this book attempts too much in a small Manchester, it is seen that most deaf persons, although told that medical treatment could not assist them any space, and does little " toremove confused thought and further, waited until they were almost completely action," which presumably, from the preface, is its main isolated before attempting to obtain assistance by objective. hearing-aids and by lip-reading, and there was a preponderence of very deaf people among the cases. The Refuse Destructors and Separation. By A. W. Neal, A.I.E.E. 1988. London: Technical Press, Ltd. book seeks to emphasise the proved and invaluable help pp. 148. Price 10s. 6d. net. which can be obtained if only it is sought early enough, The object of the author of this book is to provide" a and dramatic as are the advances in the efficiency of modern hearing-aids, these must not obscure the practical statement on the principles of refuse disposal importance of lip-reading which should be more at a destructor." This he does very well. He recognises and explains the important part played by local conseriously encouraged. The detection and assessment of deafness are dis- ditions in the evolution of destructor systems and wisely
Book Reviews
125