Efficacy of speech pathology management for chronic cough: a randomised placebo controlled trial of treatment efficacy

Speech Therapy—A Non-Pharmacological Method to Manage Difficult-to-treat Chronic Cough

“…Both VAS as a subjective scale of cough severity, and Polish version of LCQ [18] showed significant improvement. These findings are similar to results published by other authors [6,19]. Interestingly, there was no change in cough responsiveness assessed by capsaicin challenge, and this is also consistent with results of other authors [19].…”

“…This technique is adapted from the treatment of hyperfunctional voice disorders. The first studies concerning speech therapy techniques in treatment of CC came from the 80s of 20th century, while the first randomised trial was published in 2006 [6]. Speech therapy for CC is multifactorial intervention, which may include different elements: education about cough, identification of cough triggers, instruction on cough suppression techniques, breathing exercises, vocal hygiene and hydration techniques and sometimes some forms of counselling.…”

“…The latter is the most documented method of management of UCC or difficult-to-treat cough [4]. Speech therapy consists of education, learning strategies to reduce cough, respiratory and speech exercises [6][7][8]. We present a case of a patient with persistent, difficult-www.journals.viamedica.pl -to-treat chronic cough due to gastroesophageal reflux disease, who was finally succesfully treated with speech therapy.…”

“…Speech therapy was conducted by a speech therapist using a method developed by our team based on the technique described by Vertigan et al [6]. It included education of vocal hygiene, teaching strategies to relax diaphragm and reduce cough and laryngeal irritation.…”

Treatment of Unexplained Chronic Cough

“…Significant risk of bias was identified in one study 22 in the areas of randomization, concealment of allocation, blinding of the intervention and outcome assessments, and measurement the quality of life outcome. The intervention used in the study by Vertigan et al 23 was a speech pathology intervention and involved concealed random allocation, but treatment group and outcome assessments were unblinded.…”