How Rare Is It?

Laryngeal cleft is commonly reported to occur in 1 out of every 10,000 - 20,000 live births.

However, that statistic doesn’t present the full story.

That estimate comes from research conducted before 1970 and is accurate for severe clefts (types 3 and 4).

Newer research has shown that mild clefts (types 1 and 2) are more common than originally thought.

In fact, mild laryngeal clefts have been found in up to 7.6% of children with chronic respiratory symptoms who undergo airway evaluation under anesthesia.*