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School Clinics
The school clinics are operating efficiently.
A proportion of pre-school children are seen,
and treated through play and counselling to
the parents. Despite curtailment of regular
school visits the speech therapists report
closer working relationships with the schools
in their areas, due to continuity in post and
the regular visits made last year These
visits will be increased as soon as staffing
permits
Miss Cook and Miss Montgomery, who have
charge of the clinics in the Feltham, Heston
and Bath Road areas, have worked together
during the year to provide intensive group
therapy for stammerers. This was initiated
during the Easter holiday, followed by a
modified group in the summer holiday when
six children whose ages ranged from twelve
to fifteen years were seen as a group for four
days from 10 00 a m. to 3 30 p m daily. The
treatment was through syllabic speech,
followed by group discussion of their problems,
views on their own and other's speech with
and without syllabic timed speech, and their
opinions as to how others viewed them They
were also given assignments outside the clinic
where speech was used and difficulties and
successes encountered were discussed by the
group on their return
The children attending these groups have
shown improvement and the intensive therapy
will be continued
Special Schools
Martindale - A change of staff took place during
the latter part of the year, but work has
gone forward smoothly with increasing
accent on joint assessment of children
Marjory Kinnon - The numbers are maintained
at a very high level, the majority being
seen within the junior school Therapy
has been concentrated at this age
because of the high proportion of speech
defective children and because progress
in speech and language development
can be more easily accelerated at a
younger age. Later emotional problems,
which can result from failure of
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communication are also avoided The
time allowed is still far too little and
treatment is insufficient for the severity
of the speech retardation encountered,
but it is hoped the problem will be overcome
when additional accommodation is
provided in the new school
Special Classes - In the latter part of 1968 a
once a week morning class was started
following the encouraging results of the
experimental summer school. Early in
1969 a special class started, held every
morning at the Busch Corner, Isleworth
The children attending were chosen on
the original criteria i e speech and
language development below other
developmental levels Two chiIdren had
reached school age but were considered
psychologically likely to fail in normal
school, and therefore attended the class
prior to school entry. Two other children
were already in school but seriously
lagging in achievement and developing
behaviour problems The numbers are
restricted by the very small room A
teacher is employed by the education
department to work with the speech
therapist and an intensively planned
morning takes place covering language
development, training of perceptions,
movement and pre-reading and number
work Significant progress is being seen
particularly in the younger children
Transport to the class is a major problem
Children can only be admitted when
parents can bring the children so entry
is limited The one morning a week class
in Dr Tyson's room at Heston Hearing
Clinic has also continued during the year
Eight children are seen, varying in age
and in the speech disability This class
is run by Mrs. Cox and Dr Tyson with
assistance from teachers on the diploma
course at the Maria Grey Training College
Methods used are discussed and developed
as necessary The need for extending these
classes is being considered and will be
reported on at a later date