Evening star., 1934-06-25
MYSTERY DISEASE
BRINGS DEAFNESS
Hard-o -of-Hearing Meeting Is
Told AffIiction Is Wide
spread.

Deafness is a much more widespread
ailment than most people suppose, Dr.
Walter A. Wells, Washington specialist,
told an audience of 600 attending the
fifteenth annual meeting of the Amer
lean Federation of Organizations for
the Hard of Hearing today at the
May1ower Hotel.
DR.. Wells cited statistics to show
that $4,000 otherwise normal and
healthy young men were rejected for
World War service because of bad
hearing.
Speaking in the scientific session
which followed formal opening of the
convention, Dr. Wells said use of new
jnstrument-the audimeter-makes II
possible to make approximately correct
measurements of deafness in children
as well as adults. He said tests with
this device had showed there are ABOUT
600 600 children in school who are
handicapped by deafness and that the
cost of educating these children was
about $4,000 100000 more than II
they we're normal.
Discusses Mystery Disease.
The specialist discussed also the new
mystery disease-otosclerosis-"iiiCli
strikes down young men and women In
the prime of life, and which meoicai
science has been unable 10 connpa'
successfully. The disease attacks tne
bonv capsule surrounding the hearing
organ and its nerve endings and after
the first attack tends to get worse as
time goes on.
Canon Anson Phelps Stokes OF
Washington Cathedral. formally opened
the convention with the invocation
after which Maj. P. A. Hodgson, AS
sistant Engineer Commissioner, ex-
tended greetings on behalf OF the DIS
trict government
Ada M. Hill, president Of the Wash
inpton League for the Hard OF Hear
ing. welcomed the 265 delegates ano
their guests on behalf OF the deal oi
the Nations Capital.
DR. Wendell c. Phillips, honorary
president of the federation, presided
at the scientific session. which was
addressed by the following: DR.. Es-
tella Ford Warner, representing Sur
geon General Hugh Cumming; Or
Stacy R. Guild of Johns Hopkins Uni
versity. on THE Pathology of High
tone Deafness; DR.. Douglas Macfar'
Ian. Philadelphia, on The Pre-Schoo
Defeaned Child Problem; DR.. wells
on Hopeful Trends in Othology";: DR.
Harvey Fletcher. physical research d.
rector. Bell Telephone Co laboratories
on Hopeful Trends in Testing Hear
ing and In Prescribing Hearing Aids. >
Others Speak.
Others who participated in the
discussions, but who were not as
signed definite topics, included Edith
Symmes, psychologist of the Wash
ing Child Guidance League; Estellt
Samuelson. New York League for the
Hard of Hearing; DR.. Frederick N
Sperry. New Haven, Conn.,, and DR.
Austin A. Hayden. Chicago.
A physicians luncheon was held al
1890. with DR.. E. j. Cummings o1
Washington presiding. For the lay
people a buffet luncheon was served
in the Italian room.
From 2 to 4:30 pm. publicity ses'
sion was scheduled, with District wei
fare Director Elwood A. Street presld-
ing. Among those on the program
were w. w. Wheeler, Chesapeake q
Potomac Telephone Co.; Arthur Guild
director, Richmond VaD Community
Fund; j. B. Wyckoff, business man.
ager, Nations Business, and Curtis
Hodges, executive director of the
Greater National Capital Committee
A supper for juniors was planned
for pm. with Elizabeth Tatun
Of Washington in charge, followed by
a junior session under the supervisor
Of Mrs. Douglas McGregor, liaiSon Of
| ficer for the Boston Junior Guild. A
private lip-reading contest was to be
held at 7:30, and an official reception
from to 1920, under the chair
manship of President Hill OF the
Washington League, who is in charge
| of arrangements.