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26
SPEECH THERAPY
The speech Clinic staff was increased in 1961 to a total of
four full-time therapists. However, the pressure of work was not
abated, and the waiting list for treatment at both the central
St. James's Road and the New Addington Clinics were long. The
Case loads were also heavy at both Special schools. The amount
of work suggests the need for a further increase in staff by
possibly another whole-time therapist. This would, however, necessitate
either larger premises, or more de-centralization. In
this connection the authority to provide premises for school
Health Service purposes in the Waddon area has been noticed.
Parents' Evenings were held again during the year and were
most successful. Because of their popularity it was agreed that
they should be a regular bi-annual occurrence. Speech Therapists
gave talks at several other Parent/Teachers' Association
meetings, and equipped and attended the Speech Therapy stand at
a Careers Exhibition held as part of the Commonwealth Technical
Training Week.
The Aphasic child with associated specific difficulties continued
to be of great interest, and presented many problems.
Dr. Worster-Drought was appointed as a Consultant Neurologist,
and gave a session approximately once every 6 weeks. This help
has proved of the very greatest value in deciding the best
course of treatment to be followed in any particular case. In
the Annual Report for last year the possibility of setting up a
special class for these children was mentioned, but so far the
educational arrangements cannot be considered fully adequate.
Total number of cases treated 466 (314)
Total number of cases discharged 183 ( 74)
Total number of cases still attending 283 (240)
(The figures for 1960 are in brackets)
Further details of the work carried out are shown in
Appendix B, Table X.