Development of community-based speech therapy model: for children with cleft lip/palate in northeast Thailand.
BACKGROUND
Surgical treatment can reduce disfigurement for children born with cleft lip/palate, however, most children are left with speech and language problems. This creates a new problem as speech and language services is limited.


OBJECTIVE
To combine the principles of Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR), Primary Health Care (PHC) and institutional medical approaches for reaching and treating speech disordered children with cleft lip and/ or palate in remote area.


METHODS
The authors conducted the study from participatory workshops for development of a Community-Based Model.


RESULTS
Community-Based Speech Therapy Model for children with cleft lip/palate was established based on healthcare system.


CONCLUSIONS
Model can be implemented among children with cleft lip/palate for further process in Northeast and other areas of Thailand as well as developing countries where there is a limitation of speech therapy.
Prathanee
Benjamas
B
Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. benjamas@kku.ac.th
Dechongkit
Sumalee
S
Manochiopinig
Sriwimon
S
D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D032921:Consensus; D003906:Developing Countries; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008952:Mobile Health Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010348:Patient Care Team; D016730:Program Development; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D013785:Thailand