View report page

134
Speech Defects Clinic.
Total no. of cases treated 159
Cases discharged 60
Cases still attending 99
Cases referred for physical treatment 15
Cases referred for residental treatment 1
Cases referred to Child Guidance 1
Stammerers 28
Cleft Palate 11
Sigmatism 20
Dyslalia 72
Undeveloped Speech 20
Dysarthria 6
Developmental Aphasia 2
Stammering. The number of stammerers has increased again during
1953-54. The success of treatment is difficult to evaluate, but
it would not be presumptuous to claim that at least 50% have been
very greatly helped, others have gained in a rather lesser degree,
while there remains a small proportion who do not appear to
benefit at all.
Cleft Palate. With the high standard of operational interference
Cleft Palate speech does not present the same problem as formerly.
The cases under our care have all received benefit from treatment
and in most instances speech has become intelligible or
near normal.
Sigmatism. Provided the patient and parents co-operate normal
speech may be effected quite rapidly. A fair estimate would be
that 75% acquire normal speech.
Dyslalia. These cases are not discharged until normal speech is
acquired. Failure to reach 100% success only occur when cases
are discharged for non attendance.
Undeveloped Speech. The degree of normalcy attained depends on
the intelligence and co-operation of the patient. All cases show
some improvement and about 60% attain normal speech development,
although treatment is always of long duration.
Developmental Aphasia. Two cases are under treatment. One shows
some improvement, the other one has only just started attendance.
In September Miss Smart took up an appointment as full time
Assistant Speech Therapist. This brought our Staffing nearer to
the complement required for the numbers in the borough, though
accommodation was still inadequate for the increased number of