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Number of cases referred to General Hospital (In-patients) 17
„ „ „ Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon 18
„ „ „ Orthopaedic Surgeon 10
„ „ „ For X-ray and Electro-Cardiogram 58
„ „ „ Blood Sedimentation Rate 16
Speech Clinic.
Mrs. M. Walker, L.C.S.T., the Senior Speech Therapist, makes the
following report:—
"In 1953 the number of sessions per week at Valentines Speech
Clinic was increased from 7 to 8 and a part-time Therapist appointed
at Mayesbrook Clinic for 3 sessions per week, to cope with increased
intake. Nevertheless in 1954-5 it was found necessary to increase
part-time work at Mayesbrook to 6 sessions per week, thus leaving a
Therapist free to work full-time at Valentines Speech Clinic.
Although we have these extra sessions, waiting lists are as high
as ever in both areas, due partly to the fact that school teachers are
referring the cases earlier. Were it possible for more speech training
in general to be carried out in the schools, many of the milder cases
would not need to be seen at a Speech Clinic at all. As the situation
is at the moment, however (1—2 names being added to the waiting
list weekly) there would certainly be more than sufficient work for
two full-time Therapists in the Ilford area.
We have not had the use of a Tape Recorder this year and have
found this a great handicap in some treatments. The benefits derived
from its use in 1953 were such that we feel strongly that this instrument
should be in regular use as an integral part of Speech Therapy.
In last year's report we referred to the need to 'treat' the underfives
who suffer not from a speech defect but from the parents'
anxiety in relation to speech; and we would stress again that it is
most important that such cases should be referred as early as possible;
so few parents will accept the common-sense statement that the child
will ' grow out of it,' and the tendency is to worry the child into a
speech difficulty."