Speech Therapy for Children with Cleft Lip and Palate Using a Community-Based Speech Therapy Model with Speech Assistants
Kalyanee Makarabhirom PhD*, Benjamas Prathanee PhD**, Ratchanee Suphawatjariyakul MA***, Phanomwan Yoodee MSc****
Affiliation : * Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand *** Department of Otolaryngology, Saraburi Hospital, Saraburi, Thailand **** Northern Women’s Development Foundation, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Objective : Evaluate the speech services using a Community-Based Speech Therapy model by trained speech assistants (SAs)
on the improvement of articulation in cleft palate children.
Material and Method: Seventeen children with repaired cleft palates who lived in Chiang Rai and Phayao provinces were
registered to the camp. They received speech therapy with a 4-day intensive camp and five follow-up camps at Chiang Rai’s
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Eight speech assistants (SAs) were trained to correct articulation errors
with specific modeling by the speech-language pathologists (SLPs). SAs encouraged family members to stimulate their
children every day with speech exercise at home. Each camp was covered with a main speech therapy and others supported
by the multidisciplinary team, as well as, discussion among SLPs, SAs and the care givers for feedback or difficulties.
Results : Results showed a sufficient method for treating persistent speech disorders associated with cleft palate. Perceptual
analyses presented significant improvement of misarticulation sounds both word and sentence levels after speech camp
(mean difference = 1.5, 95% confidence interval = 0.5-2.5, p-value <0.01; mean difference = 2.5, 95% confidence interval
= 1-3, p-value <0.001, respectively).
Conclusion : The Community-Based Speech Therapy model is a valid and efficient method for providing speech therapy in
cleft palate children.
Keywords : Speech therapy, Community-based speech therapy, Cleft Lip/Palate
