CEREBRAL PALSY IN N.Z.

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25483, 1 May 1948, Page 8

CEREBRAL PALSY IN N.Z.

Recommendations For Treatment DR. EARL CARLSON’S REPORT The establishment of two diagnostic centres and two residential schools, and the training of skilled personnel for the treatment of cerebral palsy cases are recommended by Dr. Earl R. Carlson, a world authority on the malady, in a report to the New Zealand Government and the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. Dr. Carlson, who is director of the School of Corrective Motor Education, Long Island, New York, and Pompano Beach. Florida, recently visited the Dominion at the Government’s invitation and under the auspices of the Crippled Children Society. Dr. Carlson recommends that tne diagnostic centre for the South Island could be situated at Dunedin, as it is the centre of medical learning, and the centre for the North Island at the Wilson Home, Auckland, because, of the large population in the Auckland Province. Residential schools should be established at Wellington and Christchurch to serve the requirements of the Wellington and Canterbury Provinces. It might also be found necessary, he says, to establish a number of small day schools in other cities where cases of cerebral palsy total not fewer than 12. When the Disabled Servicemen's Training Centres are no longer required for returned service personnel. Dr. Carlson suggests that they could easily be converted into cerebral palsy training and teaching centres. On his return to the United States, Dr. Carlson will forward photographs and drawings of essential equipment used in cerebral palsy cases. State Assistance Dr. Carlson considers that under the Government’s Social Security Scheme, the State should provide the accommodation, trained personnel and essential equipment necessary to the treatment of cerebral palsy cases. The Crippled Children Society should be the voluntary organisation to supplement State aid by registration of cases, transport of children, provision of extra educational aids, and the arrangement of outings and entertainments. and may offer bursaries for selected personnel to receive initial training overseas. ’The society should establish parents’ associations and special cerebral palsy committees to carry out research and assist generally.

Dr. Carlson says he would be prepared to accept qualified personnel for training at his school. Two Auckland women. Misses Olive Mays and Natalie McLeod, have already trained at his school for six irionths. and will return to New Zealand shortly. The utilisation of their services at a residential school is recommended. I

Dr. Carlson urges that use should be made of the facilities available at the various speech therapy clinics. He was very impressed by the corres-

pondence school system in New Zealand, and he considers that the ser- • vices of the school could be further extended in the general education of. cerebral palsy cases. Mention is made in the report of four New Zealand cerebral palsy cases—Mr D. M. Anderson, M.A., Mr J. M. Blackwood, Mr Sydney Murrell and Miss Paulette Leaning—who have shown academic ability, and whom Dr. Carlson is prepared to give a course of three months’ training at his school, provided that transport costs can be met by scholarships. Dr. Carlson considers that probably the best equipped person to take charge of cerebral palsy centres is a child specialist. His consultants should be orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists, neuro-psychiatrists. educacationists and other specialists as they may be necessary. Incidence of Malady The report, quoting registration figures of the Crippled Children Society, says that the known total of cerebral palsy cases in New Zealand

on March 31, 1947, was 275 males and , 239 females under 21 years of age. Of these totals, 47 males and 43 females were in Canterbury, South Canterbury and Westland. The indications in the United States are that about seven cerebral palsied children are born each year in every 100,000 of population; of this number one child dies in infancy, leaving a total of six cases to every 100,000 of population. Persons suffering from cerebral palsy die no younger than normal persons. Dr. Carlson’s report summarises the causes and treatment of cerebral palsy and the education of sufferers on similar lines to the public addresses which he gave in New Zealand. He comments that, while conducting clinics in the Dominion, he saw many cerebral palsied children who had •rofited considerably from surgery.

P' •- -• but he also saw cases where surgery had not helped the child. In the majority of cases, much surgery, he adds, can be avoided by the proper Use of bracing (splints) and physical therapy. Drug therapy in cerebral palsy conditions has not been as effective as the popular literature on the subject would indicate. Value of Education “It can be demonstrated that the mental growth brought about through education is the most important factor in amelioration of the cerebral palsied.” he says. “Parents who delay academic training until the child acquires better control of his hands or speech are surprised at the rapid improvement in muscle control which follows when the child is finally allowed to go to school. . . . Every educable cerebral palsied person in New Zealand should have the right 'to an education irrespective of the extent of his affliction. Special schools should be provided for those who are too seriously handicapped to compete in a normal school environment.” Emphasising the need for attention to vocational training and rehabilitation, Dr. Carlson says too much effort cannot be devoted to finding suitable vocations for the cerebral palsied. In a statement issued yesterday, the Minister of Health (Miss Mabel Howard) expressed the Government’s thanks to Dr. Carlson, who. she said, had visited New Zealand entirely without remuneration. His report would be considered by the Government and the Crippled Children Society. A special representative committee would, no doubt, be set up soon to recommend how Dr. Carlson’s proposals could be implemented.