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53
Two special clinics have been started to teach children with
asthma certain breathing exercises.
Mr. J. A. Cholmeley, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, attends
Mattock Lane and Ravenor Park Health Centres, during alternate
weeks.
60 cases were admitted to hospital and 202 others received
corrective treatment from the two physiotherapists at the clinics.
SPEECH CLASSES.
Speech Therapy
In addition to the routine work of the department, an under-five
play group for retarded speech cases was started during the year.
The children are taken in groups of six and encouraged to
indulge in active noisy play for 30 minute periods. Into the
games are introduced various vocal noises such as hooters, trains,
motor cars and bells. A quieter period of table play with plasticine,
picture books and drawing is used to encourage conversation
between the children. The session is ended with a 15 minute
period of simple stories of the repetitive type (e.g., the "Three little
pigs") in which the children join spontaneously. Nursery rhymes
or games to music sometimes replace the story.
Several children who entered this group quite inarticulate at
four years have entered school at five with an understandable
language.
A "follow up" group for stammerers has been maintained
during the year. This group is encouraged to build and organise
a puppet theatre. The creative work involved helps to remove
inhibitions and encourage a free flow of language; progress can
thus be carefully observed.
Other activities during the year included the treatment of
the following children :
Dyslalia 107
Stammer 35
Aphasia 4
Cleft palate 4
Other conditions 3
Total 153
Treatment is carried out by Miss Sawkins and her staff. Mrs.
Pauer, Speech Therapist Assistant, resigned in July and was replaced
by Miss M. Sorby.