Glossoptosis is a medical condition and abnormality which involves the downward displacement or retraction of the tongue. This mostly affects infants and children. It may cause non-fusion of the hard palate, causing cleft palate. It can also cause difficulties with feeding and upper airway obstructions. Glossoptosis could be a symptom of a birth defect from Pierre Robin Syndrome. It can also arise with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

Glossoptosis is characterized by an abnormal posterior placement of the tongue like a downward displacement or retraction. This characteristic causes other symptoms to arise because of the abnormality. Glossoptosis may cause upper airway obstruction which can lead to infants not getting enough oxygen. Not only may they not get enough oxygen they most likely will experience shortness of breath and struggle to breathe.

Not being able to breathe properly can lead to other difficulties like struggling to breastfeed or even eat because of the lack of oxygen. Infants and children can also have difficulties swallowing because of the abnormal placement of the tongue. If they are unable to eat properly this can cause a lack of nutrients in the infants or children affected with the abnormality, and most likely will fail to thrive.

Another symptom of glossoptosis can be obstructive sleep apnea. A study showed that 25% of children who were sent for fluoroscopic sleep studies showed glossoptosis as a cause of airway obstruction leading to sleep apnea. Some children affected with glossoptosis can also experience speech issues.

Glossoptosis can be caused by birth defects one being Pierre Robin Syndrome (PRS). Birth defects usually occur during the pregnancy and are present at birth. They are not preventable. Pierre Robin Syndrome specifically targets infants’ jaws and may not form properly. Pierre Robin Syndrome is also known as Pierre Robin sequence because it is a sequence of disorders, one causing the next. For example, micrognathia in PRS can lead to glossoptosis and that leads to airway obstruction.

Genetic disorders can cause glossoptosis as well. Genetic disorders happen when there is a mutation or change in a gene. They can also be passed down from parents to their children. Down syndrome is one of those genetic disorders that can cause glossoptosis in a child.

Neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy also causes glossoptosis. Neuromuscular disorders happen when there’s an abnormality in brain development. This can happen during or after pregnancy. Children affected with cerebral palsy have weak muscles which can affect the tongue. Weak tongue muscles lead to children with cerebral palsy having downward displacement or retraction of the tongue.

There are many ways to diagnose this abnormality. Flexible Fiberoptic Laryngoscopy (aFFL) is a procedure that is most frequently used to diagnose glossoptosis. A study did show that it was not the most reliable, but it can be used to diagnose glossoptosis.