With the Christmas season fast approaching you may want to consider the gift of an electric toothbrush.But what do the experts say? Talking to Paddy Fleming, Paediatric Dentist with Our Ladies Hospital for Sick Children, he says electric toothbrushes are just as good as regular ones. You can get the same result. If however the novelty of an electric toothbrush stimulates more brushing, then that’s a plus.

Mentec’s social committee recently organised a table quiz fundraiser for the Association. By coincidence Triona Sweeney from the Children’s Hospital Temple Street sent us a request for funds to help train Speech Language Therapists in the use of new techniques / equipment. With this in mind the folks in Mentec pulled out all the stops and organised an excellent raffle in addition to the table quiz.Prizes for the raffle were donated...

I recently attended the AGM of CLAPA UK. It was my first visit although CLAPAI are represented most years. There was a packed agenda that was full of interesting topics. Jane Frances from Changing Faces gave the first talk. I cannot give a report on all of Jane’s talk suffice to say it was most enlightening. The following are my own notes on the section of the talk that dealt with staring.

The Annual General Meeting of the Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Ireland was held on Tuesday, 24th September 2002 at 7:30 pm in the William Stokes Building, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8. Ruairí Ó Dúlaing was re-elected Chairman.In addition to the AGM two talks were given. Approximately 30 people were in attendance. The evening was a notable success with questions being put to both speakers from the floor and delight being express...

Position Paper – IntroductionGiven the chaotic state of speech and language therapy services as provided by the Health Services, the Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Ireland (‘the Association’) has undertaken its own analysis of the problems that exist. In so doing it has examined the various reports carried out, as well as taken cognicance of the views of interested parties and most particularly the views and experiences of its own members.

Our information evening on Thursday 7th February 2002 was attended by approximately 70 people and proved very worthwhile if gauged by the turnout and the level of audience participation. The presentation by Mr. Michael Earley, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Temple Street Children’s Hospital, was very well received, and there were many contributions from the floor on issues very close to people’s hearts.