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School the general waiting list for diagnostic assessment has been
reduced. At the same time there has been an increase in preschool
group therapy for language handicapped children. This is
a most important group of deprived children who can be helped
by the therapist in preparation for the increased language opportunity
that formal school will provide. The Report also shows
the valuable attendance of students from a number of schools of
speech therapy and schools of Speech and Drama.
In audiology this has been a year of consolidation and reassessment
of aims and objectives. The four main objectives are
set out later in this Report, and the multidisciplinary team basis
of integration with the medical practitioner and Hospital services,
now and in future, are clearly delineated. The sound base that has
been laid in educational treatment for hearing impaired children
in the past two years at the Darrick Wood Unit supplemented by
the valuable peripatetic service provided by Teachers of the Deaf
can be built on by the provision of a secondary unit in the new
Darrick Wood School.
The absence of Dr. Gaynor Lewis from full duty from
January to September 1971 was a severe handicap but this
popular officer has now returned to the service.
Handicapped Pupils and School Psychological Service
The integration with the Hospital service that already exists
is shown in the Reports from Farnborough Hospital concerning
special services at Cheyne Hospital, West Wickham and the
Phoenix Centre, Farnborough Hospital. This is further emphasised
in the Report on Child Guidance. In the latter Report it is
alarming to read of the increase in numbers referred for school
phobia and truancy and for drug abuse. Previous Reports have
referred to the pressures on the Child Guidance Clinic because
of lack of a psychotherapist. Part of this difficulty is that only on
one day are facilities available, a difficulty which is inherent in
the multipurpose use of the building for so many different purposes.
Continued collaboration internationally with teams from the
United States and France through the Institute of Psychiatry,
University of London on a pilot study relating to childhood
psychiatry is a tribute to Dr. Rodriguez and a valuable contribution
of this Clinic to research.
Members will note in the section of the Report the important