Laryngeal Dysfunction & Chronic Cough

For a variety of reasons, the vocal cords (vocal folds) can close when they are supposed to open. This nearly or completely blocks the airways, causes issues with tight and/or noisy breathing, and can understandably cause great distress for the person suffering and for those around them. This all relates to laryngeal (voice box) dysfunction.

The vocal cords can also become irritated and hypersensitive, and the result can be a chronic cough. This is a cough that lasts eight weeks or longer. At its mildest, a chronic cough can be a personal annoyance, but at its most severe, chronic coughing can result in incontinence, vomiting, dysphonia, social isolation, and more.

Thankfully, these disorders are treatable and members of the ESSP team are considered advanced practitioners in this space.

  • • Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD)
    • Paradoxical vocal fold movement (PVFM)
    • Exercise induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO)
    • Globus/lump in the throat
    • Tight throat
    • Chronic cough
    • Chronic throat clearing
    • Belching disorders including aerophagia

  • • Multidisciplinary engagement to ensure accurate diagnosis
    • Thorough exploration of symptoms and personal experiences
    • Breath re-training therapy to open the vocal cords
    • Personalised laryngeal health program
    • Laryngeal relaxation therapy
    • Evidence based cough suppression techniques
    • Laryngeal de-sensitisation
    • Counselling
    • Diaphragmatic breathing therapy

Let us care for you and your loved ones

Want to find out more about how Eastern Suburbs Speech Pathology can help? Please get in touch and one of our team members will get back to you.

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