CLEFT PALATE CASES

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1940, Page 9

CLEFT PALATE CASES

MANY CHILDREN CURED.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 1

“The treatment of cleft palate cases is one sphere in which we have haa quite remarkable success,” said Mr L. G. K. Steven, speaking at the annual meeting of the Canterbury and Westland branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society last evening. Many children with this disability were brought to the society, and with skilful surgical treatment were able to recover completely. Mr Steven said that, he regarded crippling of speech as among the worst forms of crippling, but the greatest success could b e achieved with proper surgical treatment ana suitable speech training afterwards. If parents realised what could be done for their children they would bring them to the society. Mrs W. Mackay, welfare officer of the society, gave details of several cleft palate cases that had been completely cured- Treatment often meant

that the child had to be sent to Wellington for a period, and this* was a big drain on the resources of the society. It was, however, expenditure which was most gladly undertaken She also emphasised the importance of speech training.