What about Speech?

Update 16/03/08:  The Give Our Kids a Voice Campaign information.  Go here to find out more.

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If the cleft of the palate will affect your child's speech  will depend on the type of cleft and the severity of it at birth. This article, found on Wikipedia, helps with understanding a little more about the speech characteristics of a cleft-affected child.

Many children with cleft palate need the help of a speech pathologist, and some may need an additional operation to improve their speech. Your Speech Pathologist will advise you if they feel this is required after observing the development of your child over the years.  The goal is to help the child develop normal speech as soon as possible.

Here in South Australia there appears to be little support in the area of affordable Speech Therapy. 

You may receive some assistance through your Specialist Team in the early stages of speech development, however we didn't.  If you do, this assistance will generally cut out by the time the child starts school.

You may then find assistance through the Government schooling system for additional assistance via a School Services Officer (SSO) ~ who is not a trained speech therapist assistant but rather a Government worker who is instructed on how to deliver a program designed by a Government Speech Pathologist who would have seen your child once or twice at the start of their schooling.  If you're very lucky, you may have one or two hours of extra help a week.   If you are to continue with this kind of assistance you will need to meet with the school each year and go through the process of a Negotiated Education Plan (NEP) that the school then submits to the Government for extra funding.  It's not the best system, far from it, but it is the only system SA has. 

Private Speech Therapy is also available, of course.  There are those that claim no money is too much for their child's speech, however severe speech disorders can take many years of regular (sometimes fortnightly visits) at a cost of between $50 - $90 per session (45 minutes long).  Even with Private Insurance, this money is quickly absorbed, leaving the parents to find the full amount themselves.

Our personal experience started at Flinders Medical Centre where we saw brand new (or almost graduated) Speech Therapists.  Unfortunately, the Therapist we had stated that Tim's problems arose from his palate and that, as his speciality wasn't cleft, he could only provide the 'standard' therapy, which wasn't going to be enough for Tim.

When we moved to the ACFU we were told by their therapist, reputably one of SA's best, that his speech problems were not cleft related. We explained about the opinion of the other SP but were told that the problems which affected the speech did not relate from the palate therefore the ACFU could not offer assistance.

Effectively, we were on our own. What little I knew of speech therapy and modelling, repeating sounds and sounding out words, were all we had to help our son with in his formative years. 

When Tim started school he was helped by the Government through a series of Negotiated Education Plans (NEPs) worked out between the school and us on behalf of Tim. We were getting extra funding for the school so that they could have someone give our son speech help 2 or 3 times a week. This lasted until he was in Year 2, at which stage the government ceases to give this kind of assistance.  At the end of Year 2 we agreed with the specialists that Tim wasn't clear enough to tackle Year 3 so we kept him back for an extra year of help.

As he is still unclear at the age of 11 the ACFU SP has agreed to provide speech assistance to him so that we might improve his speech and pronunciation.  We are happy for the help but wished it had come a little earlier. At this age one wonders if Tim's speech will ever boarder on 'normal'. 

This is why I'm joining with CleftPALS Australia to see what we can do to influence the Government to assist with Speech Therapy and make it more affordable for the average Australian.  Unfortunately, when I wrote and asked for assistance I was short-shifted very quickly.  Emails I send to Government Departments regarding Speech Therapy in SA were deleted with even being read (I have the receipts to prove that). 

I'm not a rallyist and I'm not a radical. I'm a mother who wants a better system in place not only for my child, but for the children that need it.      

* Update 09/07/07

I'm pleased to say that the letter I wrote to my local Federal  member, Mr Kym Richardson, was forwarded by him to the Minister for Health, the Hon Tony Abbott on 14 June, 2007.  I await a response in due time. 

Update 16 March 2008

I received a response to this letter.  Unfortunately, it merely described the system already in place and did not provide more information.  That was the old government and there is now a more effective Government in power it seems, so far.  I will again approach the Government for their help.