View report page

Several subjects were discussed, such as irregular attendance,
the non-co-operation of parents, speech therapy in spastic
and athetoid cases and in cleft-palate cases. During the visits
many children were tested, and it is notable the number found
who have pronunciation difficulty, chiefly with the " S " sound.
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE SPEECH CLINIC
By Miss R. CLARKE, L.C.S.T.
During the year 1947, 96 children made regular attendances
to the Speech Clinic. Of these children, 56 have been discharged
as relieved or improved. A further 24 children received treatment
for a time, but for various reasons were unable to complete
their treatment. Once again it has been difficult to maintain
regular attendances from those who have to travel from the
far ends of the Borough.
Now that the Speech Clinic has been in operation for two
years, it has been possible to keep better pace with referrals,
and the waiting list has been considerably reduced.
The majority of the cases were referred to the Clinic by
the assistant school medical officers or head teachers. Two
children were referred by the Maternity and Child-Welfare Clinic
and two by hospitals.
Of the cases who attended regularly, there were 49
stammerers, 33 dyslalias, 5 mild deaf cases, 4 cleft palates, 4
lisps and 1 hyperrhinolalia. Sixty-nine of the children were boys.
Only 5 of the stammerers were girls. Two of these children
have also received treatment at the Child-Guidance Clinic.
Apart from the cases mentioned in the statistics, a visit
was made each week to Grange Road Special School, where
treatment is given to those children who are unable to travel
to the Clinic. Both physically and mentally handicapped
children are given speech therapy, if it is considered they are
likely to improve and benefit by it.
My thanks are due to parents and teachers and all those
who have co-operated with the work and made improvement
possible.
CHILD GUIDANCE. The Child-Guidance Clinic was still
working to some extent under staffing difficulties. Miss
Roubicek was appointed whole-time psychiatric social worker
in October, 1946, and did yeoman service throughout the year
under review. No permanent appointment of an educational
psychologist could be made, however, and the invaluable services
of Miss Stevens, which were made available through the kind
offices of the National Association for Mental Welfare, were
limited to two and three sessions respectively in alternate weeks.
Moreover, the responsibilities of the Medical Director in other
directions limited the amount of time which he could devote
personally to the diagnosis and treatment of the patients.
Nevertheless, a very substantial year's work is recorded in
79