Tongue reduction surgery in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, effects on eating and swallowing function: A case report

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder undergoing oral surgery require specialized preparation to facilitate a prompt return to oral food intake. This study reports a successful case of behavioural management after tongue reduction surgery in a 4-year-old boy with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder Ten days post-surgery the Speech-Language pathologist designed an intervention using a combination of local analgesic lidocaine, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and behaviour modelling. The intervention was carried out multiple times daily by the boy's parents while in hospital. The patient went from complete refusal to move his tongue, eat or drink, to eating one of his preferred foods and could be discharged from hospital five days after initiating the intervention.