§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the hearing aids issued to children under 16 years of age are at present of the "behind the ear" pattern.
§ Mr. AlisonIt is estimated that about half of the National Health Service hearing aids provided for children are the "behind the ear" pattern. The National Health Service models suitable for severe deafness in both children and adults are of the body-worn type.
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children under the age of 16 years have hearing aids issued under the National Health Service; how many children are known to be too deaf to benefit from a hearing aid; and what recent reports he has had about the efficiency of the aids at present in use.
§ Mr. AlisonIt is estimated that about 15,000 children of school age in England and Wales have hearing aids. The numbers of pre-school children with aids and children unable to benefit from an aid are not known. Recent reports about the effectiveness of National Health Ser-78W vice hearing aids prescribed for children are being studied by my Department.