Phone: 617-573-4206
The Pediatric Airway, Swallowing and Voice Center, a collaboration of MassGeneral Hospital for Children and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, specializes in the treatment of children with voice disorders and airway management symptoms that affect the ability to eat, breathe or speak.
Multidisciplinary Pediatric Treatment for Complex Diagnoses
Disorders involving airway, swallowing and/or voice functions are often complex and may require treatment by more than one medical specialist. The Center has been developed to provide seamless care for pediatric voice disorders across multiple medical sub-specialties including pediatric otolaryngology, gastroenterology and pulmonology, as well as for the full range of diagnostic testing services. Our unique multidisciplinary approach enhances diagnosis, management and communication of voice disorders and airway problems with primary care providers.
Pediatric Patients who may benefit from the Center include those with:
- Chronic cough
- Voice and resonance disorders (vocal nodules, cysts, velopharyngeal insufficiency, etc.)
- Congenital and acquired airway disorders such as laryngeal clefts, subglottic stenosis, vocal cord paralysis, laryngomalacia, primary ciliary dyskinesias
- Laryngeal papillomatosis
- Respiratory papillomatosis
- Suspected paradoxical vocal fold / cord motion
- Suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
Ongoing Research Ensures State-of-the-Art Treatment for Airway and Voice Disorders
The Center is currently involved in clinical investigations including research into:
- Gastroesophageal reflux and chronic cough
- Occult gastroesophageal reflux
- Voice therapy for children with hoarseness and vocal nodules
- Surgical outcomes of children undergoing excision of vocal fold cyst and nodules
- Innovative treatment of children with juvenile recurrent respiratory papillomas
- Biofeedback therapy for children with paradoxical vocal fold motion
- Nerve reinervation procedures to treat unilateral vocal fold paralysis
- Airway reconstruction for subglottic stenosis
- Endoscopic repairs for children with laryngeal clefts
- Pre-operative positive pressure therapy in lowering the risk of adenotonsillectomy in children with sleep apnea
- Use of cine-MRI dynamic imaging in defining anatomic anomalies in children with velopharyngeal insufficiency
- Use of cine-MRI dynamic imaging in defining anatomic anomalies in children with obstructive sleep apnea
Hours and Services
Outpatient care: Every Tuesday morning, the team of combined specialties (Otolaryngology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology) sees children on the second floor at MEEI. This will allow for children who need to see all three services to have coordinated care at that time.Endoscopies: Each child needing combined procedures such as rigid bronchoscopy, flexible bronchoscopy, and/or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) will have these done in the coordinated setting at MEEI.
Learn more about the Pediatric Airway, Swallowing and Voice Center.
At MassGeneral Hospital for Children, we know that the time of your child’s diagnosis and treatment is a very stressful one and we strive to provide an open, welcoming environment. We believe that no one knows a child as well as the parent does: parents, along with primary care providers, become our partners in a child's care and have an active voice in all treatment plans.
