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advice to the mothers. No extensive psychological case-histories
are taken because of lack of time, and follow-up at subsequent
clinics is rather limited. However, there is usually a close follow-up
by the health visitors at home. It is felt that many mothers benefit
very much by being able to discuss their problems thoroughly and
often simply by being re-assured. A Toddlers' Clinic should not
degenerate (the word is used advisedly) into a miniature child
guidance centre. Where there is no improvement in the child's behaviour
or the mother's attitude in a reasonable time, then they are
referred to the Child Guidance Centre for a really competent opinion.
In reporting on a Toddlers' Clinic, two factors emerge. Firstly,
there needs to be a coherent follow-up in as many cases as possible.
It is, at the moment, impossible to assess results on a logical rather
than on an intuitive basis and the follow-up should extend, if possible,
for ten or fifteen years.
Secondly, a Toddlers' Clinic with a highly selected clientele
may be one way of preventing mental and emotional catastrophes in
adult life. Intelligent modern mothers are presented with a plethora
of advice on the psychological needs of their children. They are
often confused. As a result, some homes have little discipline,
others have too much, in others the discipline is quite inconstant.
By means of clinic attendances, talks at home with health visitors,
talks and films at the clinic by invited experts the disturbed mother
can often be persuaded to adopt a more balanced attitude to the
temperamental care of her child."
Details for the year 1963 are as follows:—
Sessions held 12
First attendances 118
Follow-up attendances —
Referrals to other clinics 4
Referrals to hospital —
PHENYLPYRUVIC AMENTIA.- This form of mental backwardness
is associated with the presence of phenylpyruvic acid in the urine, and
by early detection and dietary treatment mental deterioration that is otherwise
unavoidable maybe prevented. The arrangements for testing by routine
the urine of infants at the third to fourth week of life for the detection of
the presence of this acid have continued. The test is a simple one arid is
carried out by the health visitors.