Clinical Studies in Speech Therapy
- Author:
Anne H. McAllister, M.A., Ed.
B. University of London Press. 15/-.
No better title could have been chosen for this book, the subject matter consisting- almost entirely of case histories of patients who have been under the personal training of Miss McAllister, and after reading a few pages, one realises that no pains have been spared in treating each case from every possible angle. The home conditions, general environment, medical history, and the reactions of the patient at school, work, or during recreation, have been studied and explained, making up a book which is well worth reading. We are given a comprehensive study of the various types of speech defects, each case being dealt with from the physical, psychological and educational point of view, together with an outline of the treatment indicated, and this broadmindedness of outlook should be of help to the patient himself, as well as to his parents and teachers.
Although somewhat technical in character, the facts are stated with a clarity and thoroughness which make them readily understandable by the layman, and the case histories are so varied, that one’s interest is held throughout the whole book.
The cases are well arranged and classified, but it is difficult to understand why cases of lisping, lalling, etc., should be called ” forms of stammering This double classification of a defect is apt to lead to a great deal of confusion, particularly in the lay mind accustomed to consider Stammering and Stuttering as synonymous terms, and for a patient to be told he was suffering from stammering, when in reality his speech defect took the form of a defective ” S ” sound, would be very confusing.
As a great deal of the pronunciation is expressed by phonetic symbols, a table of these symbols is given in Appendix A. This use of phonetics is very helpful, as it enables the writer to explain to the reader the finer shades of sounds which are defective, a thing which is always difficult to do in writing.
Much stress is laid on the value of ear training in regard to good speech, and suggestions as to how this can be carried out at school and at home, with such apparatus as the Montessori sound boxes, should be very helpful.
Reading difficulties are dealt with, and many useful exercises are given for the purpose of assisting the auditory and visual memory for sounds and words. The pages containing rhymes and ” tongue twisters “, have been written with an understanding of what appeals to children, who would delight in learning such a verse as ” Once a bold, bad robber from Bristol
Part II consists of case histories and treatment of stutterers, many of these cases being particularly interesting from the psychological point of view. We are given also, a number of theories of stuttering which vary from the Freudian school of thought to the method of treating stutterers by voice training and elocution.
The various causes of stuttering are mentioned, and cases tabulated according to the cause, and the use of the Word Association tests is explained. In Appendix B will be found a copy of the Word Reaction test used at the Glasgow University Clinic.
The different types of stammer and stammerer are also discussed and much interesting information given, most of it taking the form of practical advice which can be followed at home and at school. Nobody reading this book could fail to realise the importance of speech therapy in the schools and hospitals of to-day. K.E.J.
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