CURE Children’s Hospital of Ethiopia (CURE Ethiopia) has officially begun performing speech surgery as part of their comprehensive cleft care.
For almost two decades, CURE Ethiopia has been dedicated to providing comprehensive, safe, sustainable, and compassionate care to children with treatable disabilities. What started with basic orthopedic and counseling services has now blossomed into several specialized treatments. From exciting orthopedic advancements like spine surgery to life-changing cleft care that includes nutritional support, cleft lip and palate surgery, speech therapy, and ENT services, CURE Ethiopia strives for excellence in providing comprehensive care to the children they serve.
Now, CURE Ethiopia has become Ethiopia’s first Smile Train–approved speech surgery provider. Led by Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Tesfaye Mulate, this new service line means that children who once struggled with clear speech can get a second chance to be understood and accepted by their communities.
What Is Speech Surgery?
Speech surgery is a procedure performed to correct speech problems caused by structural abnormalities in the roof of the mouth. “Even after cleft palate repair, some children experience difficulty producing clear speech because their soft palate does not function properly, allowing air to escape through the nose instead of the mouth. This results in nasal-sounding or unclear speech,” explained Dr. Tesfaye.
When this occurs, these children are first referred to CURE Ethiopia’s speech therapist, Wedise Mekonnen, for evaluation and therapy. If speech does not improve through therapy alone, they are referred back to Dr. Tesfaye, who conducts a thorough assessment. “Using endoscopy, I examine the movement and closure of their soft palate during speech. If it looks like the soft palate is not functioning correctly, I schedule the child for speech surgery to help improve their speech production,” stated Dr. Tesfaye.
After undergoing speech surgery, children return for reassessment to ensure that the procedure has been successful. This follow-up process helps confirm that their speech has improved and allows for any necessary adjustments in their treatment plan. By integrating surgery with postoperative follow-up and speech therapy, CURE Ethiopia ensures children receive the most comprehensive cleft care possible.
Why Introduce Speech Surgery?
Unfortunately, children with poor speech production are often misunderstood and face significant stigma. “Due to their inability to communicate clearly, these children may also be perceived as having cognitive impairments, leading to exclusion and fewer admissions in school,” Dr. Tesfaye added.
By introducing speech surgery, CURE Ethiopia is not only improving speech production but also fighting the stigma these children face and providing them with opportunities for education and personal development.
Join the work of CURE Ethiopia as we expand our services to transform lives, restore hope, and break barriers for children with treatable disabilities.
About the CURE Children’s Hospital of Ethiopia
Established in 2008, CURE Ethiopia performs over 2,500 life-changing reconstructive and orthopedic surgeries every year for children suffering from treatable disabilities. Strategically located in the capital city of Addis Ababa, the teaching hospital has 70 beds and four operating rooms. CURE International uses this facility to multiply its efforts by partnering with The College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA) to serve as a regional learning institution by implementing an orthopedic pediatric training program at the residency and fellowship levels. In addition to world-class clinical service, CURE Ethiopia ministers to the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their communities.
