Speech Therapy and Assessment (via Multimedia Devices for Cleft Lip and Palate Patients)

Abstract

Cleft is a major problem in developing countries where millions of children suffer with Cleft Lip and Palate. Affected children cannot eat or speak properly and are not allowed to attend school or hold a job. Socially they are forced to live an isolated life, filled with shame, pain and heartache. In India, every year 40,000 children are estimated to be born with Cleft. Surgery cosmetically corrects cleft of the child, however post surgery the child needs to undertake Speech Therapy (for improving speech) with a Speech Pathologist. This immensely benefits them and helps them have a normal mainstream life. However in developing countries, there is an acute shortage of Speech Language Pathologists (SLP). Further, patients who are from economically challenged backgrounds (particularly rural areas), cannot afford to travel distances to avail speech therapy frequently at medical institutions, since they and their family members mostly work on daily wages. Our innovation addresses the need for Speech Therapy for Cleft children by leveraging mobile and media technology. This innovation reduces the need for patients to be physically present at the hospital for Speech Therapy and in addition to this, the Speech Pathologist can review the progress of Cleft patients. Basic algorithms have been designed, using Digital Signal Processing and speech signal cross correlation techniques, to compare speech patterns of Cleft patients (against normal person speech). The innovation is patient centric and concentrates on enhancing speech via intuitive sing along games to motivate the child. This will revolutionize the way healthcare services are viewed and will build a level of transparency and accountability for patient care in the ever expanding healthcare domain. Periodically, the patient can remotely communicate with a Speech Therapist using VOIP based video conferencing capabilities whereby SLP can view the facial and tongue movements of the patient and suggest changes in speech therapy drills if required.