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It was again not possible, owing to shortage of staff, to carry out any dental
inspections in the schools. All the cases seen were specials. Comparison with the work
of the previous year shows little real change. There was a reduction of 250 total cases
seen; fillings were down by 360 and extractions down by 600. The use of general
anaesthetics (nitrous-oxide and oxygen) continues to increase. It will be seen from the
figures In Appendix III that the destructive work of extracting continues and the
constructive work of filling falls. Nevertheless, in spite of Shortage of staff and the
virtual impossibility of seeing any but special cases, every endeavour is made to give the
best possible service under the cireumstances. It is hoped that when a new Senior Dental
Officer can be appointed and more assistant dental officers attracted to the service if
that proves possible, a more encouraging picture may be painted of the prospects for the
children's dental health.
SPEECH DEFECTS. In addition to her normal clinics, the speech therapist has continued
to make a weekly visit to the Elizabeth Fry Special school in order that physically handicapped
children, including those with cerebral palsy, who are unable to attend the speech clinic shall
not be deprived of the benefit of treatment if they need it. The speech therapist Is assisted
in this work by two third-year students who attend once a week. The close liaison between the
speech clinic and other parts of the service - child guidance, ear, nose and throat, dental
and paediatric - which is so essential to its success, has continued to work smoothly under
the guidance of the Chief Assistant School Medical Officer who attends once a fortnight.
REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE SPEECH CLINIC
by
Miss R.Clarke, L.C.S.T.
There has been no great change at the speech clinic this year. There has been a steady
flow of referrals, and it has not been possible to take the children in as quickly as one
would have liked.
Statistics:
No. of children who attended 150
Boys 113
Girls 37
Types of Defect
Dyslalia 70
Stammer 42
Stammer and dyslalia 11
Cleft Palate 7
Sigmatism 7
Hyperrhinolalia 4
Hyporhlnolalia 1
Cerebral Palsy 5
Deafness 3
Discharged improved 70
Source of Referral
School Health Service and Head Teachers 139
Maternity and Child Welfare 10
Hospitals 1
Several children were referred to Mr.Scott, the Aural Surgeon, for examination, and
one child was subsequently referred by him to the West Ham School for the Deaf, Tunmarsh Lane.
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