Speech Pathologists receive extensive training in the anatomy and neurology of the larynx; This is where chronic dry cough generally originates. Research has shown that Speech Pathologists can can teach several strategies that help patients to eliminate their dry cough.

Occasionally patients may also require medication alongside the therapy.  Below provides a brief overview of how a Chronic Dry Cough can develop and how we can treat it.

Where are your Vocal Folds?                

Your Voice Box (Larynx) sits at the top of the airway. Sitting inside the Vocal Folds (sometimes also called vocal cords)

The resting position of the vocal folds is OPEN – while we are breathing in and out.

Here is a video of the vocal folds during voicing and breathing.

Our Vocal Folds are Lifesavers!   

The Vocal Folds act like sliding doors that CLOSE the airway to

• stop food and drink or reflux going down into our lungs

• cough up any mucous/phlegm

• stabilise us when we need to do heavy work

• create voice for talking/singing/laughing

• stop us breathing momentarily when we are frightened (freeze before flight or fight)

 The Vocal Folds’ Closure is usually a reflex – it can happen very quickly without us telling them to. This is because it is often meant to save our life!!!

Sometimes They Get a Bit too Keen!

Imagine you’ve got a cut on  your hand. If you touch the part of your hand that is cut – it hurts!  But if you touch another part of your hand – it feels fine! So exactly the same input/stimulus is treated as a threat if there has already been some damage.

Dry Coughing happens because the larynx thinks there is a threat, when there isn’t really one.

Damage or irritation of the vocal folds can come from

• Reflux

• An upper respiratory tract infection

• Frequent “dry”  coughing or throat clearing

• Straining or over-closing the vocal folds while talking

• Breathing in chemicals or dust

There are changes that happen in the brain and in the larynx when our body has been hurt.

Normal sensations that can be perceived as a threat include

• the closure of the vocal folds during talking/laughing

• the passage of air while breathing more deeply than usual (such as when exercising or about to laugh)

• normal levels of perfume/smells/fumes

We can reverse these changes.
We can get control of the vocal folds and teach them to calm down and only close when they really need to.   

Your Speech Pathologist is going to focus on five main things:

1. Teach you cough suppression techniques – these stops the cough and puts you in control

2. If needed, teach you voice exercises to improve your voice so that it is not a cause of damage to your vocal folds.  

3. Identify what might be causing damage to the vocal folds (if this is not known) help you figure out ways to reduce the damage to the vocal folds

4. Help you identify your triggers (if not known) and how you might be able to reduce them

5. Advice on managing reflux

Vocal cord dysfunction occurs when the vocal folds close when they should be staying open – most often when someone is trying to breathe in.

Where are your Vocal Folds?                

Your Voice Box (Larynx) sits at the top of the airway. Sitting inside the Vocal Folds (sometimes also called vocal cords)

The resting position of the vocal folds is OPEN – while we are breathing in and out.

Here is a video of the vocal folds during voicing and breathing.

Our Vocal Folds are Lifesavers!   

The Vocal Folds act like sliding doors that CLOSE the airway to

• stop food and drink or reflux going down into our lungs

• cough up any mucous/phlegm

• stabilise us when we need to do heavy work

• stop us breathing momentarily when we are frightened (freeze before flight or fight)

That we can also use them to talk, laugh and sing is an extra bonus!

The closure is usually a reflex. It can happen without us telling them to. This is because it is often meant to save our life!!!

Sometimes They Get a Bit too Keen!

When parts of our body are have been damaged, a natural part of healing process is to lock down and guard the area for a certain amount of time (muscles get tense).

This is to protect the area from any further damage, this can include over-reacting to normal sensation

Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction  occurs when the vocal folds close when they should be staying open – most often when someone is trying to breathe in. It is similar to Vocal Cord Dysfunction but tends to only occur during exercise/exertion. It often occurs when athletes step up a grade in their training

Treatment includes
– identifying and mitigating any contributing factors/triggers (e.g. reflux, chemicals,  weight training technique)  
– implementing special breathing techniques that open up the vocal folds so that the person can continue with their exercise. 

We have partnered with a local gym so that we can practice the techniques on treadmills/bikes rowing machine. We are also happy to attend swimming practice or sports training sessions/games.  

Where are your Vocal Folds?                

Your Voice Box (Larynx) sits at the top of the airway. Sitting inside the Vocal Folds (sometimes also called vocal cords)

The resting position of the vocal folds is OPEN – while we are breathing in and out.

Here is a video of the vocal folds during voicing and breathing.

Our Vocal Folds are Lifesavers!   

The Vocal Folds act like sliding doors that CLOSE the airway to

• stop food and drink or reflux going down into our lungs

• cough up any mucous/phlegm

• stabilise us when we need to do heavy work

• stop us breathing momentarily when we are frightened (freeze before flight or fight)

That we can also use them to talk, laugh and sing is an extra bonus!

The closure is usually a reflex. It can happen without us telling them to. This is because it is often meant to save our life!!!

Sometimes They Get a Bit too Keen!

When parts of our body are have been damaged, a natural part of healing process is to lock down and guard the area for a certain amount of time (muscles get tense).

This is to protect the area from any further damage, this can include over-reacting to normal sensation

Speech Pathologists receive extensive training in the anatomy and neurological control of the mouth, throat, larynx and of eating, drinking and swallowing

Speech Pathologists can help people who have difficulties with:
– chewing their food. 
– controlling fluids within the mouth
– foods getting stuck in the throat. 
– food or drink going down the wrong way causing coughing
– sensation of lump in the throat (after appropriate investigations) 
– increased effort with swallowing