Recent History of Speech Language Therapy in Vietnam

For over a decade, Speech Pathologists from a number of countries have visited Vietnam to offer their services, frequently on a voluntary basis.  In 1998, Dr Charlotte Ducote from New Orleans, co-founded Operation Smile’s Speech Therapy Vietnam project.  She has been actively involved since this time promoting Speech Therapy in Vietnam,  www.vnspeechtherapy.com .

 

Australian Speech Pathologist, Janella Christie from Monash Medical Centre in Southern Health in Melbourne has been involved with the Bridge the Gap project since1998.  Since 2001, Professor Lindy McAllister, formerly from Charles Sturt University, Albury, has been involved in developing a student clinical placement and orphanage staff training program between  Charles Sturt University and Phu My Orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City, home to more than 300 children with physical impairments such as cerebral palsy. Lindy is now at The University of Queensland and actively supporting the development of speech and language therapy in Vietnam, and links between UQ and Vietnamese health care settings.

 

Despite Vietnam’s lack of a formal training course, visiting therapists have been aware of a significant interest in Speech Pathology and a tremendous desire for knowledge.  This desire to acquire knowledge and skills has come from rehabilitation specialist doctors, nurses, teachers and physical therapists as well as dentists and ear nose and throat physicians. 

 

As a reaction to the huge need for Speech Therapy skills, some workshops continue to be offered in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by specialist doctors and visiting Speech Pathologists and in fact, there are several nurses with the job title Speech Therapist.  These nurses however, have not undertaken any formal extended Speech Therapy training and therefore, have a limited knowledge base.

 

Many children with cleft conditions experience speech difficulties and often have associated hearing problems.  In seeking help for these children while in Vietnam, as part of a Project Boomerang Cleft Care team, Orthodontist, Dr Aziz Sahu-Khan and Consultant Speech Pathologist, Sue Woodward were not only confronted with a major lack of knowledge and skills regarding speech rehabilitation for children with cleft lip and palate, but also their contact with various hospitals and NGO’s across Vietnam highlighted the significant lack of knowledge about communication disabilities in general.  This can be directly attributed to the fact that there are currently no formal Speech Therapy training courses in Vietnam.  .

Trinh Foundation Australia Director, Sue Woodward, working here as a Consultant Speech Pathologist with Project Boomerang Cleft Care at the Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Hospital, HCMC. Sue is guiding staff and parents on how to assist a 4 year old child with a repaired cleft lip and palate who was using only 3 words to communicate.

 

Photo: Dr A Sahu-Khan