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72
Some difficulty has been experienced in fitting in the large
number of children recommended for treatment, and more particularly
in securing the regular attendance of the children, particularly
the younger ones who have to be brought by a parent.
New cases requiring treatment, when reported by Head Teachers,
are referred to the School Medical Officer: appointments for medical
examination are arranged at the school clinics; treatment for defects
of teeth, eyes, tonsils and adenoids, anaemia and malnutrition are
attended to, after which the patient is referred to the speech
therapist.
The assistance of the Teaching Staff is particularly helpful in
discovering defective children. Thus one boy from a senior school,
when seen at the clinic, did not show any obvious stammer (although
specifically referred by the Head Teacher). His mother claimed
that he did not stammer at home, although the boy admitted he
did so when he felt nervous at school. It was felt that there was
insufficient stammer to require reference for speech therapy—
especially in view of the pressure of work at the centre—whereupon
the Head Teacher at once produced very convincing written evidence
from each class teacher that. the defect was considerable and did
require urgent treatment.
Miss I. M. S. Knight, Speech Therapist, reports as follows:—
"During recent years it has been realised by Education
Authorities throughout the country that children who have speech
defects can be helped, and in many cases cured, if they are treated
by a trained speech therapist.
"Walthamstow has been one of the pioneer Authorities in
employing a full time teacher trained in such work.
"It is too early to assess the results of affording such training
to those children who have difficulties in their speech, but it can,
with assurance, be claimed that they are responding favourably to
treatment. In the short period between September, when the work
commenced, and December, 1936, there were two complete cures,
and in each case where a child left the centre to commence work
the child was well on the way to recovery.
' 'In the treatment of speech defects it is very important that
the centre should have a happy and restful atmosphere, and this
has been achieved. The decorations and apparatus were carefully
chosen in order to obtain the desired effect, and happiness is the
prevailing note.
"'Out of 232 cases submitted, 110 were able to receive treatment
and cases are still being accepted. Of these, 54 are stammerers,
6 are being treated for cleft palatal speech, and the rest have some