Conditions We Treat

Upper airway obstruction by the tongue

Upper airway obstruction by the tongue is a condition where the airway from the back of the nose to above the voice box (larynx) is obstructed by an abnormal tongue position. This blockage of the airway can result in difficulty breathing in neonates and infants.

Glossoptosis

Glossoptosis is a condition where the tongue is abnormally positioned backward and/or upward inside a baby’s mouth, narrowing the airway. This condition often gets worse while the baby is asleep.

Micrognathia / retrognathia / microretrognathia / bimaxillary retrognathia

Micrognathia means a small lower jaw (mandible), and retrognathia means a normal-size lower jaw positioned farther back than usual. Microretrognathia means that both conditions are present. Bimaxillary retrognathia (retrusion) means both the upper and lower jaws are positioned farther back than usual. Even though they are smaller than usual during infancy, many of these mandibles have strong growth potential as the infant grows older, a phenomenon called mandibular catch-up growth.

Cleft palate

Cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth, a defect where the tissues in the palate do not join completely during pregnancy. It can affect either or both the soft and hard palates.

Oral feeding difficulties

Some babies experience difficulty in coordinating their suck-swallow-breathe while feeding by mouth. This difficulty can be related to many factors, including abnormal tongue position, upper airway obstruction, micrognathia or retrognathia, or cleft palate. A feeding tube is often needed until the baby can take in all necessary nutrition by mouth.

Pierre Robin sequence

Pierre Robin sequence is a rare congenital craniofacial disease with symptoms of breathing difficulty and/or feeding difficulty. Severity of these symptoms varies significantly among babies. It is often recognized by a combination of features, including a small lower jaw, an unusual tongue position, and a cleft palate.