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SPEECH THERAPY.
Therapists working in the Borough during 1969 were : —
Miss Kathleen Buckman (Senior — Full-time).
Mrs. Mary Pletts (Full-time).
Miss Elizabeth Reed (Full-time).
Mrs. Hunter (Full-time from September).
Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Tooley (Part-time from June).
Miss Reed resigned, on marriage, at the end of April. We were very sorry to lose
her services. She was succeeded in September by Mrs. Hunter, a young therapist, who
adapted quickly to requirements. Two additional part-time therapists had already been
appointed in June, so with a full staff in September it was possible to arrange for more
attention to be given to children who are backward and mentally handicapped.
Language as a means of communication is surely one of the most valuable aspects of
the training of such children and from the Autumn onwards regular visits were made
to Clarendon and St. Hilda's (both schools for E.S.N. pupils) and also to the Junior
Training Centre at Harle House, Feltham.
At Clarendon School the speech of each child was assessed by a therapist with the
result that; at the end of the year 27 children were receiving treatment or observation.
This school is visited daily. Accommodation is not entirely satisfactory to attain the
best results and it is hoped that in the future consideration may be given to the erection
of a Speech Unit (approximate size 18ft. x 12ft.) to be attached to the present building
to enable a therapist to give uninterrupted treatment daily in the same accommodation,
with room for necessary equipment to be kept and sufficient space to allow movement
for restless and immature children. Good conditions give the opportunity of doing
much towards improving the speech and language development of backward children.
At Harle House Junior Training Centre accommodation has also necessarily been
poor, the bathroom being the only space available for therapy. However, the time is
approaching for the completion of the new centre in Strathmore Road, Teddington,
and it is hoped that improved conditions are on the way.
Other special schools visited by therapists were Oldfield House School for Maladjusted
Children and the Autistic Unit (Athelstan House). At the latter school 3
children benefited by treatment.
A total of 315 cases were dealt with during the year, which included those seen
in special schools and the children attended one of the following clinic treatment
centres:—
Twickenham
Windham Road
Mortlake
Kings Road
Ham
Barnes.
It cannot be stressed too much the value of referring children to a speech therapist
while still young, and it was noticeable that many under five years of age were sent
from the child health clinics. A nursery group met every Tuesday afternoon at 58,
Hampton Road, Twickenham, and these children were observed carefully, and advice
was given to the parents. Often in their homes children late in developing speech are
urged and pushed beyond their capacity with dire results! At the weekly meeting the
children are encouraged to listen to sounds, and their language is stimulated through
play. There is often a marked improvement by the time school age is reached, and thus
the children are less embarrassed as they can be more easily understood. Usually
"further treatment" has to be undertaken later, possibly six months or so after the
children have settled at school.
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