Effectiveness of Networking of Khon Kaen University Community-Based Speech Model: Quality of Life.

BACKGROUND

After surgically correcting deformities in children with cleft lip/palate (CLP), 88% still had speech disorders, resonance disorders, voice abnormalities, and unintelligibility that affected daily life. Accessibility to speech therapy in developing countries is limited. The community-Based Speech Therapy Model is one means of improving communication and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate quality of life and reflections from children, families, and speech assistants (SAs) who participated in Networking of Khon Kaen University Community-Based, Speech Therapy Model (KKUCBSM) in Mahasarakham province.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The model was piloted from March 2014 to February 2015. The Tawanchai Quality of Life questionnaire, General Health Questionnaire (Thai GHQ-12), and open-ended question feedback were used for collecting data June to August 2015. Demographic data were reported as percentages, means, standard deviations, and content analysis of openended questions.

RESULTS

Fourteen children with cleft lip and palate (mean age 5.5 years: 7 boys, 7 girls), 14 caregivers and 6 SAs were recruited for this study. Most caregivers were parents (9 families). Their needs were dental care followed by skills to support child development and skills to improve the children’s speech (score 4.64+0.497, 4.57+0.646, 4.50+0.519, respectively). The score for psychosocial satisfaction vis-a-vis facial appearance was good (3.50+0.760), but for negative result scores, they felt significantly less happy, tired, and hopeless (4.79+0.579). The anxiety score was in the normal range. As a result of interviewing about problems and obstacles before joining, caregivers reported their greatest problems arose from difficulties traveling to join the project (costs were greater than reimbursements and time was insufficient). SAs reported being overworked. Benefits from participation in the project included: children with clefts consistently accessed speech services by SAs in community, caregivers gained good experiences for daily living support and speech correction. SAs gained experiences in speech correction under supervision of Speech and language pathologists (SLPs) that could be used to help other children with speech defects and other patients besides children with clefts.

CONCLUSION

KKUCBSM for children with CLP was not only the effective way for solving articulation defects, but also improved quality of life in children with CLP.