Therapy after complete removal of the tongue

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Nmagnera
Nmagnera Member Posts: 2
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

My daughter has had 3 surgeries for head and neck cancer.  The surgeon originally scheduled her for removal of about 75% of her tongue but the scan showed the cancer reached the entirety of her tongue so they removed the entire tongue and using her leg as donor they constructed a whole new tongue.   When she tries to speak it is very muddled and mushy and she communicates mostly by way of a boogie board or white board.  She has been working toward speech therapy to learn to speak again but we just found out that her insurance doesn't cover speech therapy for persons over 21.  Just doesn't feel fair.  So I ask if there is anyone who has gone through this type of surgery who has learned tips and tricks for speech therapy ideas we would greatly appreciate it if you would share them.  We are at the end of our ropes trying to get her back to as normal as possible so she can enjoy whatever time God gives her with her daughter not to mention the possibility of her finding work.  I'm sorry this went so long.  Thank you and God bless you all.

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  • wbcgaruss
    wbcgaruss Member Posts: 2,294 Member
    #2
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    Nmagnera I Have Not

    gone through the type of cancer treatment your daughter had. So sorry you have to be here and under these circumstances. It seems a little ridiculous that insurance would cover her operation but not the rehabilitation afterward. I would at least appeal to them with specifics of your daughter's case and reasons it should be covered due to being necessary for and part of her recovery. Also, reach out to the docs who did her operation to help appeal to the insurance company for rehabilitation coverage. In the meantime maybe you and your daughter can come up with and make your own rehabilitation plan by doing any movements with the tongue repetitively with different angles, pushing the tongue, etc. Probably any movement would be strengthening or helpful to some extent. If you can't get any movement out of the insurance company go back to her doctors and see if they can't get her some greatly discounted therapy somehow. Also go to the internet and search for what you need I did a little research and found an article for therapy on the tongue after glossectomy the link to it is below and below that link is another for youtube for tongue exercises and speech therapy. You can also search the net for rehab for your daughter with discounts or hardship involved in your area. I would think it is vital to work with hospitals and docs in your area reaching out a lot and making phone calls you are bound to eventually get some help.

    Link for glossectomy exercises--https://www.speechpathology.com/ask-the-experts/therapy-for-partial-glossectomy-1134

    Link for glossectomy exercises videos youtube--https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=speech+therapy+after+glossectomy

    Hope this helps in some small way-wishing you the best-Take care-God Bless-Russ

     

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