Speech-Language Pathology as a Primary Treatment for Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction

Immunol Allergy Clin North Am. 2018 May;38(2):293-302. doi: 10.1016/j.iac.2018.01.003. Epub 2018 Mar 2.

Abstract

Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction is a condition that restricts respiration during exercise via inappropriate glottic or supraglottic obstruction. The literature supports behavioral treatment provided by a speech-language pathologist as an effective means of treating exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction. Treatment includes educating the patient, training on relaxation, instruction on paced exercise, and use of various breathing techniques to optimize laryngeal aperture. Intervention for patients with exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction may be delivered by a speech-language pathologist, given their clinical skill of facilitating long-term behavioral change and expertise in the laryngeal mechanism.

Keywords: Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO); Laryngeal control therapy; Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM); Pursed lip breathing; Speech-language pathology (SLP); Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD).

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Airway Obstruction / etiology
  • Airway Obstruction / physiopathology
  • Airway Obstruction / therapy*
  • Behavior Therapy / methods*
  • Behavior Therapy / trends
  • Biofeedback, Psychology / methods
  • Breathing Exercises / methods
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Helium / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Oxygen / therapeutic use
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Speech-Language Pathology / methods*
  • Vocal Cord Dysfunction / etiology
  • Vocal Cord Dysfunction / physiopathology
  • Vocal Cord Dysfunction / therapy*
  • Vocal Cords / physiopathology

Substances

  • Helium
  • heliox
  • Oxygen