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

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).