Reconstructive surgery is only the first step in addressing a cleft palate. Proper speech therapy is also needed to help former patients learn how to pronounce words properly. This is usually done with the help of a Speech-Language Pathologist who works closely with patients in their journey.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult, if not impossible for children to visit hospitals and meet their speech therapists. To address this concern, Smile Train Philippines has launched an app that can be accessed either via the computer or downloaded onto a smartphone.
The app was developed to help parents, guardians, and children in accessing speech therapy services online. With kid-friendly features and lively graphics, the app leads to a wide array of educational videos and speech therapy sessions, all in Filipino. The app also serves as a platform for more patients and families affected with cleft to connect with healthcare professionals to ensure that they can continue to receive comprehensive cleft care with minimal disruptions.
“Technology has allowed us at Smile Train to deliver the speech therapy needs of children with cleft throughout this pandemic. Safety is our foremost priority, and I am glad that this app allows us to safely serve the needs of these kids in the comfort and safety of their own homes,” said Smile Train’s South East Asia Director Kimmy Flaviano.
Once downloaded, the entire app and its library of content can be used without having to be connected to the internet. However, it is recommended to connect to the internet from time to time as Smile Train Philippines said that it plans to roll out content updates regularly.
The Smile Train app also addresses a glaring gap in reaching kids with cleft. “With the app, distance is no longer a problem. Kids may start their speech therapy sessions which they otherwise would not have started without the app. Furthermore, the app encourages more Speech Pathologists to partner with Smile Train,” said Veronica Yu, a speech pathologist and the lead content creator of the app. “Partnering with Smile Train is life-changing, and I know that the Smile Train app will give many speech pathologists the fulfillment of knowing that they are making a difference in people’s lives,” Yu concluded.
The app is available for download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play for Android devices.
