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157
service. A greater awareness of the relationship of emotional and
developmental factors on learning difficulties is prompting investigation
at an earlier age than the statutory age of two years.
The report underlines the co-operation between remedial
teachers, assistant medical officers and heads of schools and
educational psychologists on the slow learners' needs in infant and
junior schools and that reading difficulties at secondary level are
now under investigation. At the same time, it is to be expected
because of the inter-relationship that classes for maladjustment and
for partially hearing children will also benefit from advice on
learning difficulties for some of the pupils in attendance. More
satisfactory premises will be found in 1968 as a base for this
service.
Child Guidance
Again a report indicates the struggle that must take place for
time between consultation and therapy when a service is rapidly
expanding due to the popularity and expert knowledge of the physician
in charge.
It is hoped in 1968 to appoint a Psychiatric Social Worker
to this clinic and to seek more suitable premises.
Speech Therapy
A common defect of speech today is the stammer and
nationally there is evidence that this defect is becoming less
common. In our own service, there was a reduction from 49 to 48
children treated in the clinics. That the waiting list at the end of
the year was reduced from 175 to 157 is a tribute to the work of
the Therapists as there were for both years approximately the
same number of removals from the area and ceased attendances.
Nationally, this service for some years has suffered from the loss
of therapists through marriage but now recruitment of staff and
opening of new clinics has also been delayed by financial
stringencies.
Service for Hearing Impaired Children
The development of this service has been one of the most
encouraging features of the year. The objectives of this service are
to ascertain hearing loss at an age that will enable the child to
exploit to the full his residual hearing and diagnosis has to be made
in infancy so that the child can listen to sounds and speech.
Screening tests for infants and young children which are carried
out in the Infant Welfare Service are continued in the School
Health Service by audiometry. At present this is conducted by
school medical officers and the possibility of transferring these