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REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE SPEECH CLINIC
by Miss R.Clarke, L.C.S.T.
1951 has not been a very good year for work at the Speech Clinic. Owing to the move
of premises in the November of the previous year, it was some time before the work resumed a
normal routine. Unfortunately, also, the clinic was shut for several weeks in the Spring,
as a result of illness.
Statistics:
No. of children attending the clinic 115
Boys 88
Girls 27
Stammer 31
Boys 25
Girls 6
Dyslalia 64
Stammer with dyslalia 5
Sigmatlsm 7
Hyperrhinolalia . 1
Cleft Palate 1
Spastic 4
Mild deafness 2
Discharged improved 46
Source of Referral;
School Health Service and Head Teachers 127
Maternity and Child Welfare 14
Several children were referred to Mr.Scott, the Aural Surgeon, for examination.
Three children have attended the Child Guidance Clinic. Seven children received treatment
at the Elizabeth Fry Special School.
During the year a boy, aged fourteen, with a severe dyslalia and language difficulty,
was accepted at Moor House Residential School for children with Speech Defects. Another
child accepted at the same school in the previous year continued to attend there.
It will be noted that there is a further increase in the number of children referred
by the Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic. The majority of these children are responding
well to treatment. One or two of the younger ones have attended the clinic for observation
only, as they have been too young for treatment. It Is sometimes possible in this way, to
diagnose the cause of the defect, and thereby advise the parents as to the best method of
helping the child to overcome his disability.
CHILD GUIDANCE. Child guidance work, compared with other branches of school health
work, is a comparatively recent development but is steadily gaining in recognition. It may
perhaps be desirable once more to indicate the type of problems investigated at the clinic,
so that the real nature of its work can be understood.
1. Nervous disorders, comprising such conditions as fears, shyness, daydreaming,
depressions and emotional instability.
2. Habit disorders, comprising such conditions as speech difficulties, food disorders,
enuresis and restlessness.
3. Behaviour difficulties, comprising such conditions as irritability, temper tantrums,
aggression and unmanageabllity.
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