ANNO1’AIIONS
The ability to communicate-whether by speech or writing-might well be the most vital requirement for a particular child, but its effectiveness and quality may be dependent upon ensuring that the postural position is satisfactory for the purpose. For example, we have found that some children can type much more efficiently while lying on a prone board. and at the same time this may be a good position for postural correction. In our own school, we have operated the following system for the last four or five years. ( I ) The school programme is based on the essential aspects of development of the child: ( a ) educational development: ( h ) physical development ; (c) social and emotional development; and ( d ) language understanding and communication. The order of priority may change from time to time, but the programme should remain fairly well-balanced. (2) All members of staff are encouraged to assist in all aspects of the child‘s development. While each member of staff may have his or her own ‘speciality’, they can guide and assist other members so that all staff function as an integrated inter-disciplinary team, working together in the best interests of the children. (3) The programme is implemented in an intellectually and physically stimulating environment, both in and out of school. The aim is that purposeful activities, the widening of experiences and active participation of the children will permit them to function to the best of their ability and encourage then1 continually to search for ways and means to improve their function towards personal independence, social maturity, and intellectual and physical freedom. This includes t h e necessity of developing in the children a desire to make progress and to develop correct attitudes and values in relation to one or all aspects of their own development. R. A . PEDDtiR Headmaster, The Wilfred Pickles School, Tixover Grange, Duddington, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 3QN. REFERENCE 1 . Bax, M. C. O., Mac Keith, R . (1975) ‘The paediatric r61e in the care of the child with cerebral palsy.’ / t i Samilson, R . L. (Ed.) O d q x w d i c Asprcrs of Cetdwal Palsy. London: S.l.M.P/Heineniann Medical,
Philadelphia: Lippincott.
RETINOPATHY IN LOW-BI RTH W EIG H T I N FANTS I N a thought-provoking article’, MR. ALAN M U S H I N details his personal experience with retrolental fibroplasia during the years 1969 to 1974. He believes, from this experience, that the incidence of retrolental fibroplasia is on the increase. If this is a world-wide trend, it is of extreme importance to pediatricians and ophthalmologists. In the article, several succinct points are made which are of importance to pediatricians. M R . MUSHINpoints o u t that a level of 40 per cent oxygen in the incubator is not necessarily a ‘safe’ level for the infant: i n the presence of normal or nearly normal lung function, 40 per cent may well be a toxic level of oxygen. Furthermore, in infants weighing less than 1500g, 50 per cent of the babies show mild changes of retrolental fibroplasia. This suggests that in infants under that birthweight the vasculature immaturity of the retina is such that retrolental fibroplasia is to be expected almost as part of the price the infant must pay for his short gestation. T h e author also points out that the infant with multiple apneic spells in whom oxygen monitoring is difficult if not impossible, is a candidate for developing retrolental fibroplasia. I n my own experience, such an infant has as high a risk of retrolental fibroplasia as the infant with respiratory distress syndrome. 525
DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE A N D CHILD NEUROLOGY.
1975, 17
It is of interest to the general ophthalmologist that many infants with mild retrolental fibroplasia may develop tortuous retinal vessels and myopia. This myopia may have important consequences for future visual development, especially if it is unilateral (for the disease process may be asymmetric in the two eyes) and goes undetected, as it may give rise to anisometropia and anisometropic amblyopia. MR. MUSHINconcludes with the plea that the very ill, very low-birthweight infant be managed in an adequately-equipped neonatal center so that everything possible can be done in the way of monitoring oxygen therapy. JOHNT. FLY” Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1638 N.W. 10th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33152. REFERENCE I . Mushin, A. S. (1974) ‘Retinopathy of prematurity-a disease of increasing incidence.’ Transactions ofthe Ophthalmological Society of the United Kingdom, 94, 251.
Annual Meeting of Child Neurology Society Hamilton, Ontario, 3rd and 4th October 1975 THEFourth Annual Meeting of the Child Neurology Society will be held at McMaster University Health Sciences Center, Hamilton, Ontario, on 3rd and 4th October 1975. The meeting is open to all physicians. Further information is obtainable from the Child Neurology Society Offices, Box 486 Mayo, 41 2 Southeast Union, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.
Second Symposium on Auditory Processing and Learning Disabilities Memphis, Tennessee, 8tl?-lOtli October I975 PAPERS on the basic mechanisms, diagnostics and management of auditory processing and learning disabilities will be presented by 12 nationally recognized authorities in these fields. Details from Rikki Whitten, Co-ordinator, Public Service and Continuing Education, Memphis State University, Memphis, Tennessee 38 152.
Annual Meeting of Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children Mexico City, 5th - 9th November 1975 THEThird Annual Meeting of the Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children (SENTAC) will be held at the Hospital del Niiio IMAN (Institucion Mexicana de Asistencia a la Niiiez), Mexico City, between 5th and 9th November 1975. Papers of 10 to 20 minutes’ duration are invited. Abstracts should be submitted by 15th September either to Ernest0 Deutsch, M.D., Servicio de Otorrinolaringologia, Hospital del Niiio IMAN, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Mexico 22, D.F., or to Sanford E. Gerber, Ph.D., Department of Speech, University of California, Santa Barbara, Ca. 93106. Further information may also be obtained from Dr. Deutsch.
526
The ability to communicate-whether by speech or writing-might well be the most vital requirement for a particular child, but its effectiveness and quality may be dependent upon ensuring that the postural position is satisfactory for the purpose. For example, we have found that some children can type much more efficiently while lying on a prone board. and at the same time this may be a good position for postural correction. In our own school, we have operated the following system for the last four or five years. ( I ) The school programme is based on the essential aspects of development of the child: ( a ) educational development: ( h ) physical development ; (c) social and emotional development; and ( d ) language understanding and communication. The order of priority may change from time to time, but the programme should remain fairly well-balanced. (2) All members of staff are encouraged to assist in all aspects of the child‘s development. While each member of staff may have his or her own ‘speciality’, they can guide and assist other members so that all staff function as an integrated inter-disciplinary team, working together in the best interests of the children. (3) The programme is implemented in an intellectually and physically stimulating environment, both in and out of school. The aim is that purposeful activities, the widening of experiences and active participation of the children will permit them to function to the best of their ability and encourage then1 continually to search for ways and means to improve their function towards personal independence, social maturity, and intellectual and physical freedom. This includes t h e necessity of developing in the children a desire to make progress and to develop correct attitudes and values in relation to one or all aspects of their own development. R. A . PEDDtiR Headmaster, The Wilfred Pickles School, Tixover Grange, Duddington, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 3QN. REFERENCE 1 . Bax, M. C. O., Mac Keith, R . (1975) ‘The paediatric r61e in the care of the child with cerebral palsy.’ / t i Samilson, R . L. (Ed.) O d q x w d i c Asprcrs of Cetdwal Palsy. London: S.l.M.P/Heineniann Medical,
Philadelphia: Lippincott.
RETINOPATHY IN LOW-BI RTH W EIG H T I N FANTS I N a thought-provoking article’, MR. ALAN M U S H I N details his personal experience with retrolental fibroplasia during the years 1969 to 1974. He believes, from this experience, that the incidence of retrolental fibroplasia is on the increase. If this is a world-wide trend, it is of extreme importance to pediatricians and ophthalmologists. In the article, several succinct points are made which are of importance to pediatricians. M R . MUSHINpoints o u t that a level of 40 per cent oxygen in the incubator is not necessarily a ‘safe’ level for the infant: i n the presence of normal or nearly normal lung function, 40 per cent may well be a toxic level of oxygen. Furthermore, in infants weighing less than 1500g, 50 per cent of the babies show mild changes of retrolental fibroplasia. This suggests that in infants under that birthweight the vasculature immaturity of the retina is such that retrolental fibroplasia is to be expected almost as part of the price the infant must pay for his short gestation. T h e author also points out that the infant with multiple apneic spells in whom oxygen monitoring is difficult if not impossible, is a candidate for developing retrolental fibroplasia. I n my own experience, such an infant has as high a risk of retrolental fibroplasia as the infant with respiratory distress syndrome. 525
DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE A N D CHILD NEUROLOGY.
1975, 17
It is of interest to the general ophthalmologist that many infants with mild retrolental fibroplasia may develop tortuous retinal vessels and myopia. This myopia may have important consequences for future visual development, especially if it is unilateral (for the disease process may be asymmetric in the two eyes) and goes undetected, as it may give rise to anisometropia and anisometropic amblyopia. MR. MUSHINconcludes with the plea that the very ill, very low-birthweight infant be managed in an adequately-equipped neonatal center so that everything possible can be done in the way of monitoring oxygen therapy. JOHNT. FLY” Department of Ophthalmology, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1638 N.W. 10th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33152. REFERENCE I . Mushin, A. S. (1974) ‘Retinopathy of prematurity-a disease of increasing incidence.’ Transactions ofthe Ophthalmological Society of the United Kingdom, 94, 251.
Annual Meeting of Child Neurology Society Hamilton, Ontario, 3rd and 4th October 1975 THEFourth Annual Meeting of the Child Neurology Society will be held at McMaster University Health Sciences Center, Hamilton, Ontario, on 3rd and 4th October 1975. The meeting is open to all physicians. Further information is obtainable from the Child Neurology Society Offices, Box 486 Mayo, 41 2 Southeast Union, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455.
Second Symposium on Auditory Processing and Learning Disabilities Memphis, Tennessee, 8tl?-lOtli October I975 PAPERS on the basic mechanisms, diagnostics and management of auditory processing and learning disabilities will be presented by 12 nationally recognized authorities in these fields. Details from Rikki Whitten, Co-ordinator, Public Service and Continuing Education, Memphis State University, Memphis, Tennessee 38 152.
Annual Meeting of Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children Mexico City, 5th - 9th November 1975 THEThird Annual Meeting of the Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Advances in Children (SENTAC) will be held at the Hospital del Niiio IMAN (Institucion Mexicana de Asistencia a la Niiiez), Mexico City, between 5th and 9th November 1975. Papers of 10 to 20 minutes’ duration are invited. Abstracts should be submitted by 15th September either to Ernest0 Deutsch, M.D., Servicio de Otorrinolaringologia, Hospital del Niiio IMAN, Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Mexico 22, D.F., or to Sanford E. Gerber, Ph.D., Department of Speech, University of California, Santa Barbara, Ca. 93106. Further information may also be obtained from Dr. Deutsch.
526
