Problems of the Young Airway
Airway problems can interfere with eating, breathing and speaking. Children with symptoms may experience shortness of breath in times of stress, hoarseness or weak voice, wheezing or choking.
The problem may be straightforward to diagnose, but the causes are often complex, involving structural or functional problems in the airway and/or digestive system. Problems treated at the Center include:
- Chronic cough
- Cleft palate
- Voice and resonance disorders – vocal nodules, cysts, velopharyngeal insufficiency
- Congenital and acquired airway disorders such as laryngeal clefts, subglottic stenosis, vocal cord paralysis, laryngomalacia and primary ciliary dyskinesias
- Laryngeal papillomatosis and pediatric respiratory papillomatosis
- Paradoxical vocal fold/cord motion
- Laryngopharyngeal reflux – gastroesophageal reflux disease affecting the airways
- Airway problems in cancer survivors
- Issues associated with premature birth
- Scarring from respiratory ventilator
