In addition to her activity in eliminating contagious diseases, the teacher may often be the first to detect deficiencies in sight or hearing. Children who are inattentive and apparently dull may often be found to hear indistinctly. A very simple test for hearing is to tap a pencil against a desk out of sight of the child, and ask him to tell how many taps he hears. Headaches, squinting, the position in which the book is held, often indicate to the teacher eye deficiency which parents have not suspected. Any child who gives indications of eye trouble should be tested by teacher or principal, and, if any indications of difficulty are found, the parents should be urged to consult a competent oculist.
Dr. William H. Allen gives the following suggestions to teachers who would discover cases of adenoids and enlarged tonsils:[20]
“1. Inability to breathe through the nose.
“2. A chronically running nose, accompanied by frequent nosebleeds and a cough to clear the throat.
“3. Stuffy speech and delayed learning to talk. ‘Common’ is pronounced ‘cobbed,’ ‘nose,’ ‘dose,’ and ‘song,’ ‘sogg.’
“4. A narrow upper jaw and irregular crowding of the teeth.
“5. Deafness.
“6. Chorea or nervousness.
“7. Inflamed eyes and conjunctivitis.”