Laryngomalacia

Laryngomalacia (LM) occurs when a piece of soft tissue above a child’s vocal folds falls into the airway when he or she breathes in.

This condition is the most common breathing problem that is present at birth and the most common birth defect of the larynx.

Symptoms of LM include:

Stridor (noisy breathing) that gets worse when a baby is agitated, crying, excited, feeding or lying on his or her back
Feeding problems
Poor weight gain
Vomiting or spitting up food
Choking on food
Gastroesophageal reflux (spitting up acid from the stomach)
Cyanosis (turning blue)
Sleep apnea (pauses in breathing)

Diagnosis of Laryngomalacia

Doctors at Riley at IU Health may use the following exams and procedures to diagnose LM:

Flexible laryngoscopy. During this exam, the doctor passes a lighted scope (laryngoscope) through the nose or mouth in order to check the tissue above the vocal folds as well as the upper airway.
X-ray. The doctor may use an X-ray of the neck and chest to check for other conditions that can cause noisy breathing.
Microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy (ML&B). Performed in the operating room under anesthesia, the doctor uses a lighted scope to look closely at the larynx and trachea (windpipe)

Treatments

The majority of children with LM will require no treatment; the noisy breathing usually decreases by age 2. If your child has severe LM, the doctor may recommend a procedure called a supraglottoplasty. Performed in the operating room under surgical anesthesia, the doctor will trim the soft tissue above the vocal folds. This procedure usually helps to reduce, if not eliminate, your child’s noisy breathing. In very rare cases, subsequent surgeries may be needed.

Key Points to Remember

LM occurs when a piece of soft tissue above a child’s vocal folds falls into the airway when he or she breathes in.
The primary symptom of LM is noisy breathing, which is also known as stridor.
Most children with this condition will improve own their own (usually by age 2). In rare cases, surgery may be required.

Support Services & Resources

Visit the trusted websites below for more information and support for laryngomalacia.

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

Learn More About Riley Support Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides helpful information for parents of children with birth defects, including links to support groups.

Locations

In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.