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29
Home Difficulties and Unusual Experiences.
It is often said that the main cause of many emotional disturbances
in childhood, which can have such disastrous effects in later
life, lies in home difficulties, especially parental mismanagement or
unhappiness. Nearly every family has during the past years of war
suffered from some form of disturbance, such as separation through
war service, evacuation, housing difficulties, etc., and the peace
and stability of the home and close family ties have suffered in
consequence ; it might be expected therefore that the histories of
children referred to the Clinic for outstanding difficulties would
show unusually severe upheavals in the family life and relationships.
An approximate estimate of the number of cases seen in 1946
gives:-
Family experiences and relationships—good 26
moderate 68
bad 53
147
These figures have no statistical value, but they suggest that
emotional damage to children is to some extent proportionate to
the strains and stresses which the whole family and the child have
experienced.
Speech Therapist.
We have been very glad to co-operate during the past year
with Miss Gregory, the Speech Therapist. Several cases have been
referred from the Speech Clinic and vice versa, and in some cases
we are working jointly to help the child and his family with the
handicap.
Court Cases.
Relatively few cases are referred from the Courts, but on
several occasions we have been grateful for the co-operation and
assistance of the Probation Officers.
Placement Cases.
These are often very difficult to deal with, as they involve
serious disorders, and very complex family situations, and facilities
for placement of maladjusted children are still woefully inadequate.
We should like to record our sincere appreciation of the often
heroic efforts of Mr. Phillips, Chief Attendance Officer, to obtain
suitable placings for children.