TALKS ON HEALTH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 138, 13 June 1931, Page 19 (Supplement)

TALKS ON HEALTH

by A FAMII.Y DO-.TOK.

DEFECTIVE SPEECH. Nu child is born a stutterer. H® learns to speak under the ever watchful guidance of his parents, who arc always on the lookout to correct any irregularity they observe in the child’s behaviour—l don’t think! Speech is largely a matter uf brain control. It is true that the actual organs used in speech are the breathing muscles, the lungs, the vocal cords, the tongue, th® lips, and the nose, but all these complicated arrangements are controlled by the brain. In stuttering, the nervous control of speech is at fault. As is always the case, prevention is better than Hire. From the first moment the speech must bo watched. If there is the slightest abnormality the child should ba corrected. I tfiink some parents regard stuttering in a tiny child as a joke to be laughed at. It is no joke later on r in lite when the boy fails to get a job because his speech is defective. Constant practice in the difficult words must, be persevered with. Singing is good, reading out loud—above all, mental encouragement and a hopeful attitude. Reciting to his mother alone, then to the family, then to an audience, wijl promote confidence. Stammering Children. Nervous children often stammer a little at times W’hen they uro slightly out of health. If this is corrected at once it passes right, off; but if it is left alone the stammer may become chronic and very troublesome to carp. Here are a few ways of tackling it: Give the. child a small ball to keep in his pocket, and tell him to squeeze it whenever he feels the stammer coming. The tiny muscular effort of the squeeze will check the stammer. Put him into a firm cholera belt. A little pressure of that kind below the w’aist steadies the breathing and controls a stammer. Let him have singing lessons if he has the very least disposition towards music. Children who stammer dreadfully when speaking generally sing with perfect ease and clearness and gain confidence. Importance of Speaking Plainly. Singing, reading out loud, and ordinary speaking are much neglected. Very few' of you can speak. No one can give me his name and address in deal and decisive tones. “Jammon” turns out to be “George Hamilton,” and s® on. If we go on like this we shall lose all power of speech and just grunt liko animals. If you lose your job because you cannot make yourself understood to customers on the telephone, do not blame me. The muscles of speech and breathing were meant to be used; so use them.

Advice and Warning. j Thank you! I feel better after that ■ grumble. T have often taught that deal I talking, deep breathing, singing, reciting and other forms of chest development prevent chest troubles;' the wretched stooping, open-mouthed, adonoidy, stuffy-nosed, idiotic-looking person always dies of bronchitis and pneu- , monin. He has never been taught to breathe or Yo talk by his parents. However, this is the last year that T mention the subject. If during 1932 I come across any child who cannot fell me his mime in clear and ringing tones T shall have his parents prosecuted by the Society for the Spiflication of Parents, ft is a sort of Ku Klux Klan, only worse. Necessary Precautions.

You must not semi the clothes of a child who has had measles to the humdry; they must be soaked and boiled at home. Books that are given to a sick child shouhl, be of the ciienpei paper kind, so that they can bp burnt when finished w ith. Nicely bound book! or prize-books, that ought to be preserved, are not wanted in the sick room The hair is a place where scales of skin harbouf infection when it has gone from the rest of the lu>dy. A child recovered from any illness should have the hair well shampooed two or three times a week, so as to be on the safe side. Do not forget that the mouth is ; a source of infection in ninny of tho common complaints of childhood. It is not wise to let your child drink out of public drinking-fountains. When you are looking after a sick child, do not overlook the proper hygiene of the mouth. After a drink of milk tliei'io'ith should be washed out; a simple mouthwash or tooth-powder must be used three times a day. Mouths should nlxvays be dean, and the rule applies with double force when illness makes the mouth c.lammy and the tongue furred