Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1957-11-21
In Schools
Kids Hearing Tests
Are Being Expanded
In Schools
BY Dorothy Walesli
staff Reporter

Nontgomerys hearing program which was
expanded this year to include testing of all fourth
graders as well as first, seventh and tenth grad
ers has forged steadily ahead since its beginning
in spite of a major catastrophe that almost fin
ished it in its fourth year.
In 1886 Miss Helen Collins became hearing
consultant for the county and set UP the first
county hearing program in the State. 1t included
audiometer testing clinics, lip reading classes
and hearing aids provided by civic clubs.
At first the ear clinics were conducted by Dr.
M L. Bretstein, ear specialist, who brought his
own equipment including radium, over from
Baltimore twice month. Miss Julia Foley was
the assisting school nurse.
Miss Collins who holds the first speech and
hearing certificate given by the State Department
of Education, worked hard and by 1910 had
achieved completely clinic and the
services of local specialist Dr. D. Victor Alfaro,
of Washington.
On March 6, the clinic opened its doors in the
Board of Education building in Rockville. That
night the building was leveled by fire. Up in
smoke went Miss Collins four years of work. her
records plans and all the new equipment
Starting from scratch again, Miss Collins
built up a new testing and therapy program until
1916 when the Health Department, through the
Maternal and Child Health Program, was able to
reestablish the diagnostic ear clinics. These now
operate weekly basis with two county ear
specialists in charge
Not many people realize that Miss Collins,
herself has hearing handicap. She has found it
to be more of help than handicap in her work
however. 1t has enabled her to help children &C.
cept hearing aid more readily and to relieve
the anxieties of the confused and worried parents
of hard-of-hearing children.
1t has also helped her to realize the impor-
lance of hearing in human relationships and the
development of speech and language.
To Miss Collins, the ultimate aim of the
hearing program has always been to help the
child with impaired hearing to function in the
public school situation and to be comfortable
with himself
In 1856 the Health Department took over the
testing program with the cooperation of the
board of education and the PTAs to provide better
coverage for the rapidly increasing school
population.
AT present Miss Collins is carrying the
therapy program singIehanded. Although she has
44O children on her waiting list she is only able
to work directly with SO.
The others she helps indirectly through their
teachers and to this end has prepared special
puIetln That serves as a guide for the teacher
working with child that has hearing handicap
She is also the author of the MARYLAND State
Bulletin, "A Conservation of Hearing Program
Tor Maryland County Schools" and contributed to
the u 5. Department of Health, Education and
Welfare's Qualification and Preparation of
Teachers of Exceptional Children"
For children with severe speech difficulties
because of hearing loss, the board of education
has hearing conservation program at Broadacres
School.
Begun by Miss Ruth Daugherty in 1854, the
program now includes two other teachers Miss
Dorothy Tuch and Miss Clara Shepherd and 20
children
The aim of this program is to place the
children in regular classroom as soon as thew
nave overcome their difficulties At Broadacres
they receive the regular grade work as well as
the special training necessary.
Miss Collins came to the Montgomery County
Board OF Education at the suggestion of the
american Hearing Society. She is native of
Florida and received her MA in education ar
the University of Florida. She has also attended
Johns Hopkins University, University of Chicago
western Reserve, Maryland University and
George Washington.
HTSErNzU