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has been recommended admission to a special school for the partially sighted.
Another, a case of nystagmus, occurred in an infant of eight months old and
could therefore not be described as a congenital defect. A provisional diagnosis
made in this case was atypical spasmus nutans although there was no sign of
head nodding. Lastly a case of a girl of 14 years of age, recently arrived from
Ghana, was found to have a complicated cataract in the right eye, and the left
eye presented a picture of retinitis profliferans. Further investigations into
the aetiology are being made by seriological tests, not yet available, but her
condition-was considered to be the sequelae of Eale's disease.
Child Guidance Clinic in Tottenham
The visiting psychiatrist, Dr. W. H. Craike, commenced duties on the
5th Mry 1959 for two sessions per week. Dr. Craike reports that the problems
were difficult behaviour at home and school, nocturnal enuresis and other
psychosomatic symptoms, three cases of multiple tics, and three children with
physical defects as well as emotional disturbances.
They all came from working class backgrounds, some of the homes were
materially good and some poor. There were eleven children of average intelligence,
nine were of superior intelligence, and six were of below average intelligence.
Four parents refused treatment at the outset, or broke off treatment
after one session. There were four cases in which it was doubtful whether the
parents would accept treatment, they are being kept under occasional observation,
the parents being seen by the psychiatric social workers and the children
by the Psychiatrist.
Speech Therapy
The senior speech therapist, Miss Came, reports that the "case load"
of children suffering from speech defect continues to be heavy. The most
economical use of the therapist's time lies in early assessment followed by
early treatment.
Stammering, Miss Came points out, most commonly manifests itself
between the ages of two to five years - later it is rare. If treatment which is
usually indirect can be given during the early years of plasticity, the prognosis
is more hopeful; and every successfully treated case represents the prevention
of perhaps years of later suffering. Children who have attained normal speech
after treatment are reviewed periodically. Stammerers who have regained
fluency of speech may be kept under observation for periods up to five years.
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