Signs of a laryngeal cleft

Symptoms of a laryngeal cleft are typically centered around eating, drinking, breathing, and speaking, and are usually caused by aspiration. Signs of an laryngeal cleft may be apparent at birth or during the first few days, weeks, months, or even years after the child is born depending on the extent of the cleft. In general, the deeper the cleft, the quicker the symptoms will be noticed.

A child with a laryngeal cleft may have a few symptoms or many.  Symptoms will vary due to each child’s unique anatomy and a variety of other factors including:

  • cleft severity

  • other airway conditions, such as tracheomalacia

  • other medical conditions

  • the child’s developmental level

  • environmental conditions (feeding position, allergens, etc.)

 The following symptoms are commonly seen with a laryngeal cleft, though other symptoms may also exist:

Symptoms vary

Eating and drinking symptoms

  • choking, coughing, or distress 

  • wet, gurgling sounds

  • aspiration

  • gagging

  • inability or reluctance to eat or drink

  • poor weight gain/dehydration

Breathing, lung, and voice symptoms

  • stridor (noisy breathing)

  • wet or congested breathing

  • croup/hoarse/wet voice

  • chronic cough

  • frequent lower respiratory infections (such as pneumonia)

  • asthma/reactive airway disease

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Aspiration