A Networking of Community-Based Speech Therapy: Borabue District, Maha Sarakham
Tawitree Pumnum BSc*, Weawta Kum-ud BNS**, Benjamas Prathanee PhD***
Affiliation : * Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand ** Laotama Tambon Health Promoting Hospital, Borabue District Pubic Health Office, Maha Sarakham, Thailand ***Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Background : Most children with cleft lip and palate have articulation problems because of compensatory articulation
disorders from velopharyngeal insufficiency. Theoretically, children should receive speech therapy from a speech and
language pathologist (SLP) 1-2 sessions per week. For developing countries, particularly Thailand, most of them cannot
reach standard speech services because of limitation of speech services and SLP. Networking of a Community-Based Speech
Model might be an appropriate way to solve this problem.
Objective : To study the effectiveness of a networking of Khon Kaen University (KKU) Community-Based Speech Model, Non
Thong Tambon Health Promotion Hospital, Borabue, Maha Sarakham, in decreasing the number of articulation errors for
children with CLP.
Material and Method: Six children with cleft lip and palate (CLP) who lived in Borabue and the surrounding district, Maha
Sarakham, and had medical records in Srinagarind Hospital. They were assessed for pre- and post- articulation errors and
provided speech therapy by SLP via teaching on service for speech assistant (SA). Then, children with CLP received speech
correction (SC) by SA based on assignment and caregivers practiced home program for a year.
Results : Networking of Non Thong Tambon Health Promotion Hospital, Borabue, Maha Sarakham significantly reduce the
number of post-articulation errors for 3 children with CLP. There were factors affecting the results in treatment of other
children as follows: delayed speech and language development, hypernaslaity, and consistency of SC at local hospital and
home.
Conclusion : A networking of KKU Community-Based Speech Model, Non Thong Tambon Health Promotion Hospital,
Borabue, and Maha Sarakham was a good way to enhance speech therapy in Thailand or other developing countries, where
have limitation of speech services or lack of professionals.
Keywords : Networking, Cleft palate, Speech therapy
