XN000022-1980-08-25 — Page 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 1980

CHILDREN SCREENED FOR HEARING DEFECTS

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THE AUDIOMETRIC SCREENING PROGRAMME RUN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO DETECT HEARING DEFECTS IN CHILDREN WILL COVER THE WHOLE PRIMARY ONE POPULATION BY 1981.

IN THIS FISCAL YEAR THE SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED IN STAGES FROM GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO BENEFIT MORE THAN 88 000 PUPILS.

+PLANS TO RECRUIT MORE AUDIOLOGISTS, AUDIOMETRICIANS AND SUPPORTING STAFF, AND THE PURCHASE OF TWO WELL-EQUIPPED VANS FITTED WITH ACCOUSTIC BOOTHES ARE IN THE PIPELINE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DISCLOSED TODAY.

IN ADDITION, FACILITIES AT THE TWO EXISTING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES CENTRES WILL BE EXPANDED SO THAT MORE EQUIPMENT WILL BE ACQUIRED AND MORE SPACE WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR AUDIOLOGICAL AND REMEDIAL SERVICES.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE SCREENING PROGRAMME WAS PART OF A WIDE-RANGING LONG-TERM PLAN INTRODUCED IN 1968 TO HELP SCHOOL CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM HEARING DISABILITY.

IT WAS AIMED AT DETECTING HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN PUPILS THROUGH HEARING TESTS CONDUCTED BY TRAINED PERSONNEL IN VISITS TO SCHOOLS EVERY YEAR, IN ORDER THAT SUBSEQUENT ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIAL ACTION CAN BE TAKEN AT AN EARLY STAGE TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM DEVELOPING INTO A HANDICAP.

THERE IS A FIVE-MINUTE HEARING TEST IN A QUIET ROOM MAINLY TO FIND OUT THE PUPIL'S RESPONSE TO CERTAIN FREQUENCIES OF SOUND AT FIXED SCREENING INTENSITY WITHIN NORMAL SPEECH RANGE, HE EXPLAINED.

+PUPILS WHO FAIL THE TEST OR ARE ABSENT FROM SCHOOL ON THE DAY OF SCREENING WILL RECEIVE A FULL-SCALE ASSESSMENT AT ONE OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES CENTRES. AFTERWARDS A VERBAL REPORT ON THEIR HEARING ABILITY WILL BE GIVEN TO THE PARENTS. A WRITTEN REPORT WILL ALSO BE SENT TO THEIR HEADS OF SCHOOL SOON AFTERWARDS, + HE SAID.

+HEARING IMPAIRED CHILDREN WILL THEN BE RECOMMENDED FOR SPECIAL SEATING ARRANGEMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM, PROVISION OF HEARING AIDS FREE OF CHARGE, PERIPATETIC TEACHING SERVICE, AND PLACEMENT IN SPECIAL CLASSES OR SPECIAL SCHOOLS.

+AT THE SAME TIME, REGULAR SPEECH AND AUDITORY TRAINING WILL BE GIVEN THEM TO ENHANCE THE IR SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. THOSE IN NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION WILL ALSO BE REFERRED TO SPECIALISTS FOR TREATMENT, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

OF THE 68 000 PRIMARY 1 PUPILS FROM 709 SCHOOLS WHO RECEIVED TESTS LAST YEAR, ABOUT FIVE PER CENT OR 3 400 WERE IDENTIFIED TO HAVE VARYING DEGREES OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT.