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SPEECH THERAPY.
Therapists working in the Borough during 1968 were:—
Miss Kathleen Buckman (Senior)
Mrs. Mary Pletts
Miss Elizabeth Reed.
During the year 283 children attended, their ages ranging from 2½—16 years.
Sessions were held at Barnes; Mortlake; Kings Road, Richmond; Windham Road,
Richmond; Ham and Twickenham Clinics. In addition, all special schools were visited
regularly — Oldfield House School for Maladjusted Children; St. Hilda's (E.S.N.);
Clarendon School (E.S.N.) and Harle House Junior Training Centre.
Fifty children under 5 years were referred. At Twickenham a group of pre-school
children and their mothers met one afternoon each week at the Clinic, Hampton Road.
Miss Reed was in charge of the children whilst their mothers had a discussion with Miss
Buckman. This proved successful in preparing the children for more formal therapy
when they reached school age, and at the same time a good relationship was formed
between parents and therapists, and some knowledge of each child's family background.
In many instances delay in the development of speech and language seemed to have
been caused by unsatisfactory housing, constant television in the home, and insufficient
time being given to young children because of both parents working. Those suffering
from more serious handicaps were treated individually.
Accommodation for speech therapy leaves much to be desired. At Harle House —
the temporary Junior Training Centre — treatment was given in the bathroom, as no
other room was available. Poor accommodation is detrimental to satisfactory treatment.
It is interesting to note that speech retardation, and defective speech, is often the
first noticeable symptom in a child referred for therapy. On investigation, however,
the underlying problem often appears to be one of psychological origin, and until this
can be treated, there seems little hope of improvement in speech.
All pupils at Clarendon School were seen by a speech therapist in order to ascertain
whether treatment was necessary. Many children were found to be not so much
in need of therapy, as in requiring help in speech training.
At St. Hilda's School, Barnes, where the number of pupils is small, there were a
few seriously speech handicapped children whom it seemed could well form a nucleus
for a Special Speech Unit in the future.
Throughout the year as many schools as possible were visited by one of the
therapists, and in addition there were many visits to homes. As in previous years
students from Speech Therapy Training Colleges attended for observation, and also
for working under supervision.
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