§ Mr. McLarenasked the Minister of Health when he proposes to make transistor hearing aids available to adults; and what advice he proposes to give to hospital authorities about priorities to be observed in issuing them.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithInitial supplies of transistor hearing aids have been dispatched to hearing aid distribution centres to enable a start to be made on the issue of these aids to adults. It will take a considerable time to replace valve aids by transistor aids and I have suggested to hospital authorities that subject to the otologist's discretion to prescribe a Medresco transistor aid for a particular patient where he thinks it clinically necessary, and after the prior claims of children and war pensioners, the order of priorities for issuing these aids to adults should be as follows. First, those adults who received a transistor aid as children and require a replacement: second, the deaf-blind: third, those who are dependent on a hearing aid for employment and are severely handicapped in their work by a valve aid: equal fourth, mothers with young children and those who because of physical disability cannot make full use of a valve aid.