View report page

SPEECH THERAPY –
There has been a slight but not significant rise in
the number of children under treatment during the past
year.

The types of speech defect were classified as follows:-
(1) Dyslalia - Mixing or missing out of consonants
126
(2) Developmental aphasia - Delayed or absent speech
43
(3) Stammering
32
(4) Aphasia associated with mental subnormality
12
(5) Dysarthria - Defects due to disorders of the
muscles of articulation
10
(6) Disorder arising from deafness
1
Speech therapy may be begun, when necessary, at the
age of three and a half years and any child of this age
or older whose speech appears to be abnormal or backward
for his age should be referred for an opinion. Referrals
are made to the Area Health Office from School Medical
Officers,, General Practitioners, School Teachers and
Educational Psychologists.
Each child is medically examined at his first attendance
and any necessary investigations e.g. hearing tests
are arranged.
Speech therapy sessions are held regularly at most of
the clinics within the area for the individual treatment
of children. Some pre-school children are best treated in
a group and such play-groups are held at the Mattock Lane
and Ravenor Park clinics.