[Report 1954] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, Swindon Borough.

  • Swindon (Wiltshire, England). Borough Council.
Date:
1954
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1954] / Medical Officer of Health and School Medical Officer of Health, Swindon Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    38/82 (page 35)
    SPEECH THERAPY The Speech Therapy service has been carried on throughout the year (4 sessions per week). Miss Ansell’s resignation at the end of May was followed immediately by the appointment of Miss Montgomery, thus ensuring that there was no break in the con¬ tinuity of the children’s treatment. Speech defects have been of the usual range, the most common being the various types of dyslalia (i.e. defects of articulation). Cleft palate cases have been few. Children have been treated either individually or in groups of up to five members, according to the needs of each child. As in previous years, the Speech Therapist visited the Spastic Unit twice a week until in October the appointment of a Speech Therapist under the Swindon Hospital Board rendered it no longer necessary. In spite of the additional time thus made available for ordinary clinic routine, the waiting list remains very considerable —new referrals each month being equal to or exceeding the number of children admitted for treatment. By the end of the year, how¬ ever, the waiting time had been reduced to six months. In several cases children have been receiving treatment at the Child Guidance Clinic as well as attending for Speech therapy, and helpful co-operation has been given by the members of the Child Guidance Team. Several school visits were made. Much useful information may be obtained from teachers, and often advice can be given by the Speech Therapist with regard to the handling of the speech- defective children in school. No. of children (Boys 56 girls 22) - 78 No. discharged - - - 32 Number of attendances - - 519 School Visits - - - 7 Homes visited - - - - 3 In addition, children from the surrounding County districts of Wootton Bassett, Wroughton, Stratton, etc. have attended the Clinic, and 30 boys and girls have received treatment during the year.