440 



SCIENCE OF HOME AND COMMUNITY 



causes deafness. In many cases the difficulty may be reme- 

 died by a simple operation in which the tonsils or adenoids 

 are removed. 



Defects of the ear. A small per cent of children have de- 

 fects of the ear. The chief cause of these defects is a dis- 

 eased condition of the throat and nose. Hence it is important 

 to give proper care to these troubles before they spread to 

 the ear. Two other causes of defective hearing are infectious 

 diseases and stoppage of the ear canal. The diseases which 



FIG. 175. Before and after removal of adenoids. 



are most apt to affect the ear are scarlet fever, measles, and 

 diphtheria. Wax accumulations sometimes cause deafness. 

 If taken in time, the wax may be easily removed. This 

 should be done only by a doctor. It is dangerous to run 

 hair pins and other objects into the ear in order to remove 

 the wax, as some people carelessly do. 



The ears may be tested by means of a watch. The person 

 should be blindfolded and each ear tested separately. The 

 watch is held at varying distances and the greatest distance 

 at which it can be heard is ascertained. Meanwhile the 

 other ear should be covered. 



