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71
Between April and December 30 children were admitted
to the class which is held on Monday and Wednesday afternoons
every week.
During this period 6 children were discharged and
returned to their schools with normal speech. One child
left upon attaining the age of fourteen much improved after
four months attendance.
Three other children were discharged from the class
as being unsuitable, leaving 23 on the register at the end of
the year.
Miss Badcock, L.R.A.M. (Elocution) who is in charge
of the class reports as follows:—
"A third of the children attending the speech training
class have been stammerers. In two of these cases the
stammer was obviously of psychological origin, and both
have reacted to persuasion, that is they have been persuaded
to discuss their hitherto unexpressed fears and repressions
and so release an emotional tension.
At the same time they have undergone a course of
physical relaxation, rhythmic breathing, etc. The speech
and general conditions in each case is steadily improving.
Other cases of stammering include those of the
"stutter" type.
Excellent results in this type are obtained from speech
guidance, encouraging slow smooth speech. One boy who
six months ago was unable to read five words consecutively
without a stutter, can now read normally as the result of
this treatment.
The stammerers are taken collectively for relaxing but
also receive individual treatment.
Cases of speech defects other than stammering include
various types of lisping and lalling (undeveloped speech)
and four cases of cleft palate.
For lisping and lalling instruction is given in lip and
tongue exercises and in practice combining the sounds of
speech, which is followed by reading and talking exercises.