HC Deb 20 October 1975 vol 898 cc87-8W
Mr. Welsh

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what finances were allocated during 1974 and for 1975, respectively, for deaf children in Scotland.

Mr. William Ross

The amounts paid directly from central Government funds in connection with the education of deaf children during the years 1974 and 1975 are £101,217 and £121,970, respectively, being the grant paid to Donaldson's School for the Deaf, Edinburgh. Capital investment allocations to education authorities for school buildings for deaf children amounted to £15,479 in the financial year 1974–75 and £924,000 in 1975–76. In addition, health services resources are devoted to the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of deaf children, but the expenditure cannot be separately identified.

Mr. Welsh

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities for detailed individual assessment and initial testing of deaf children exist in Scotland; and what plans he has for the creation and expansion of such centres.

Mr. William Ross

Hearing is first tested by a health visitor, usually on a home visit at about eight to nine months. Tests are usually carried out in schools as soon as possible after the child starts school, and twice thereafter at about age 9 and 13. Hearing may also be tested when children visit general practitioners, or by doctors working in child welfare clinics. Where a defect is found, the child is normally referred to a specialist for treatment and supervised by a multi-disciplinary hearing assessment panel. There are four main panels covering most of the country, and two areas have their own arrangements. The establishment of multi-disciplinary panels followed the 1967 Report on the Ascertainment of Children with Hearing Defects. The existing arrangements appear to be reasonably adequate and I have no proposals for expansion at present.

Mr. Welsh

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland are officially recognised as being deaf; and what plans he has to meet their special educational problems.

Mr. William Ross

There is no single procedure that could be described as official recognition of deafness. A Handicapped Children's Register is maintained, and at 31st December 1974 the number of children up to the age of 16 shown on this register as totally deaf was 291, and as partially deaf, 955. In January 1974, 415 children were receiving special education in schools for the deaf and 331 in schools for the partially deaf. Many partially deaf children attend ordinary schools, with the assistance of suitable hearing aids and additional tuition.

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