​

Signs of Laryngeal Airway Disorders

​

Chronic Cough

Chronic Throat Clearing

Laryngeal Breathing Attacks

 

Symptoms of Laryngeal Airway Disorders

 

Coughing for more than 8 weeks unrelated to an illness

Frequent/chronic throat clearing

Trouble breathing in with specific triggers

Breathing attacks unresponsive to inhalers/puffers

Voice Changes

Tightness in the throat

Rapid onset and recovery of breathing attack

Airway noise on inhalation

​Breathing attack or coughing in response to airborne irritants/odours

Breathing attack with activity or high-level/elite athletics

Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO)/Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion (PVFM)

​

​

Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion or Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction has been described as a breathing disorder frequently mistaken for asthma. Behavioral treatment by a speech-language pathologist is the gold standard after all other potential causes have been ruled out. It is a breathing disorder defined by closing of the vocal folds during inspiration, which can result a feeling of throat tightness and noise on inhalation, chronic coughing or throat clearing. PVFM has been frequently mistaken for asthma which has led to unnecessary medical care from medication to hospitalization.  Cause has been proposed to be secondary to irritable larynx syndrome or hyperactive/hypersensitivity in the laryngeal airway.