London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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East Ham 1950

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for East Ham]

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85
SPEECH THERAPY.
1. No. of Cases referred in 1950 69
2. No. of Cases under treatment on 31/12/50 84
3. No. of Cases discharged or not requiring treatment, removals
etc., during the year 31
4. No. of Cases waiting treatment 31/12/50 29
5. Total attendances for treatment 1,690
The Speech Therapy Clinic has run its firs, full vear and has
dealt with many defects of speech ranging of cases of stammering and cleft
palate to lisping and "Baby-Talk". Cases are referred by School Medical
Officers, Head-Masters of schools, parents and any other body officially
dealing with the pre-school and school population. On reference, the
patient is given a preliminary examination to determine whether he is In
need of immediate treatment or, if the defect is nor severe, the mother is
given advice on how to help him at home and his name is Included in the
waiting list.
The patients generally attend the clinic for treatment, once a
week, the duration of which is from twenty minutes to half an hour. The
school is informed so that the teachers know when to send the child out
of his class. After treatment has begun, visits of parents to the
clinic and of the therapist to the school are frequent, In order that continuous
contact may be maintained between home, school and clinic. In
cases of suspected deafness or of possible nasal obstruction the child is
referred to the Aural or the E.N.T. clinics where the necessary examination
is made by the specialists. If tonsillectomy and adenoldectomy are Indicated,
treatment Is suspended until after the operation.
Other referrals may be for orthodontic treatment or if, as in
many cases of stammering, the patient shows signs of considerable
emotional disturbance, then he is referred to the Child Guidance Centre
and Speech Therapy Is resumed after he has been treated by the Psychiatrist.
The most common defect to be dealt with in School Clinics is
Dyslalla - which is an acute form of lisping or lalllng accompanied trycomplete
or partial disco-ordination of the muscles governing speech.
Cleft palate is quite frequent, which may or may not be accompanied by
cleft-lip; here It Is Important that the flexibility of the muscles
affected by the operation should be induced. Lip and tongue exercises
are given for the child to practise at hlme and exercises for breath
direction and palate jerking are also included in the treatment.
There are now 23 stammerers receiving treatment, the basis of
which is relaxation. This enables us to relieve the mental strain and
help them acquire the greater ease of mind which will In turn restore
self confidence, self respect and by degrees eliminate the fear of speech.
HOSPITAL TREATMENT.
Apart from the financial implications the change in administration
of the hospitals has made little difference to the treatment of Ease
Ham pupils. Cases requiring specialist services are referred to an
appropriate hospital and the provision of all forms of treatment is thus
maintained.
Operative treatment of tonsils and adenoids has been carried out
as follows
Children's Hospital, Balaam Street 411
St. Mary's Hospital, Plalstow 115