The Hidden Cleft

Most people have never heard of a laryngeal cleft. That’s because it’s hidden and only in the last 30 years have doctors been able to diagnose and treat this congenital birth defect.

Because it’s so unknown, many children struggle for months and years before being properly diagnosed. Once diagnosed, it can be challenging to find treatment with an experienced medical provider.

Laryngeal clefts are a rare disorder. However, research suggests milder clefts are more common than originally believed and may affect up to nearly 8 percent of children with chronic respiratory symptoms who have their airway scoped (International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 2014).