ABNORMAL CHILDREN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22596, 8 December 1936, Page 2

ABNORMAL CHILDREN

PROBLEM OF TREATMENT DEVELOPMENTS IN AMERICA In speaking of the care and treatment of mentally defective and abnormal children, Dr. Lorna Hodgkinson, 0 f Sydney, who arrived at Auckland yesterday by the Aorangi, said she could not stress too much the need for proper treatment in such cases. Dr. specialised at Harvard in the psychology of abnormal and mentally defective children and is en route to the United States to study the latest methods of treatment.

In the United States and in England mentally defective, neurotic nnd abnormal children, in a large number of m. stances, were placed in special instititions and not in the State mental hospitals, where they mixed with those who were permanently insane. In the United States the children were placed in homes with attractive surroundings, and, with a certain amount of understanding arid kindly guidance, persuaded to work. After'reaching the age of 18 many were secured employment. Abnormal and neurotic children were not regarded as mentally defective, Dr. Hodgkinson said. With careful treatment they might become normal. j a manv cases their condition was largely a matter of heredity and sometimes of environment. The sending of feebleminded hoys or girls to prison for offences was strongly deprecated by the doctor. Agricultural stations and industrial colleges should be provided where they could obtain proper treatment. Dr. Hodgkinson considered that many children were defective because of the post-war conditions which had been experienced by their parents. She also thought that young women of to-day placed in jeopardy the normality of children of future generations. Many of them did not obey sensible rules of' life and suffered froai lack of sleep. Education and wise pa rental control were the only methods of safeguarding their weilbeing.