LEARNING TO SPEAK.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15746, 13 November 1916, Page 5

LEARNING TO SPEAK.

TREATMENT FOB SOLDIERS DUMB THROUGH SHELL-SHOCK. Lieutenant-Colonel C. S. Mjers, F.R.S., of the R.A.M.C., in the "Lancet" for September, gives further details of his methods of dealing with loss of speech in men suffering from shellshock Persuasion is first resorted to. Tho patient is asked to copy the doctor as he makes the sounds B, D, and finally V, S. and K. When ho has learned to make the necessary movements of the lips, tonguCj, and throat, the man is told to cough, thus proving that he has power to make a noise. "lhen he is told to add the vowel A to the end of his cough. Successful in this, lie is made to cough out the other vowels, and finally to prefix a consonant to the vowels instead of the cough. Delighted at being-able to vocalise Ba. Di. So. etc.. in many cases the patient is soon able to combine monosyllables, till ho can repeat his surname and regimental number. If this first treatment fails an amesthetie is given. In a great many cases, the patient~Ts able to speak on coming to. Some, however, though they may then speak, relapse into dumbness in a few hours. Here hypnotism is resorted to. tho patient being told while in the hypnotic state that his voice has returned and that as scon as he awakes he will be able to speak. In" the great majority of instances, after on© or more hypnotic treatments a complete cure is obtained. Private Macdonald, Seaforth Highlanders. has regained his speech in a West Lothian Hospital through temporarily choking .while inhaling cigarette smoke.