An extended, high-rising epiglottis, on the other hand, can be a normal variant of the larynx in the vast majority of juvenile children. Consider this in a healthy infant who has no complaints other than the sense of a strange body in their throat. The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that covers the opening of the windpipe or trachea when it is not being used to swallow. It acts as a filter by shutting off the air passage when food is not being digested. An extended epiglottis may block some of the airflow through the windpipe and cause problems breathing out or coughing. However, if your child is experiencing difficulty breathing, has been diagnosed with asthma, or is otherwise under the care of an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor), then an extended epiglottis should be removed before performing surgery on the vocal cords. In this case, the surgeon will use a laser to cut away the excess tissue around the opening to the windpipe. The risk of cancer increases if the epiglottis does not move up and down during swallowing. Therefore, if your child's epiglottis appears stiff and does not bend over when they eat, speak with a physician about having it removed to improve their ability to breathe while eating.