県レベルでネットワーク作りに取り組む立場から―小児言語聴覚療法の普及を目指して

Networking at the prefectural level to improve the delivery of speech-language-hearing services for the pediatric population

　熊本県では発達障害児の実数に対してそれをフォローする療育施設・訓練機関が足りず，言語聴覚士(以下ST)による十分な支援を受けることができずにいる子どもたちが溢れている．このような現状を是正すべく，熊本県言語聴覚士会では，2004年から医療機関における小児言語聴覚療法の開設サポートと，人材育成に取り組み始めた．開始より3年経過したが，小児言語聴覚療法に取り組む医療機関が着実に増加している．

　今後も，この活動を継続し，STによる支援を必要としている子どもや保護者が，身近なところで言語聴覚療法を受けることかできるよう，発達支援を地域に根づかせていきたい．

　In Kumamoto Prefecture, the number of facilities that can provide services to children with developmental disorders falls very short of the number of such children.　Therefore, there are many children who are unable to receive sufficient services from Speech-Language-Hearing Therapists (SLHTs).　In order to improve this situation, Kumamoto Speech-Language-Hearing Therapists Association has started to provide assistance in establishing Speech-Language-Hearing Therapy (ST) for children in medical facilities as well as fostering human resources since 2004.　Three years have passed since, and the number of medical facilities offering ST for children has increased steadily.　We will continue these activities to support child development in the region so that children or their guardians who need support from SLHTs will be able to receive such services in the vicinity of their residence.