Voicetrainer Blog

What is it if it's NOT asthma?

Posted on May 28, 2013 in Body and Voice

Having trouble breathing?  At your wits end trying to solve the problem? What is it if it’s NOT asthma?

Paradoxical vocal fold dysfunction (vocal cord dysfunction, laryngeal disordered breathing, etc.) is a breathing disorder isolated to the larynx, the voice box.   Whereas asthma and exercise induced asthma are isolated to the lungs.  People will typically complain of having difficulty taking a breath in.  This occurs because the vocal folds are being held in a more closed vs. open position.  

Health24 tells us a little more about these illnesses being misdiagnosed in athletes: http://goo.gl/PfbeM.

In our practice, patients typically are referred by an Otolaryngologist (ENT) or  Pulmonologist, and most often present with symptoms during increased exertion.  It can occur with any sport such as soccer, lacrosse, crew, swimming, etc.  Diagnosis is often made by pulmonary flow loop (a test where you breathe in and out through a tube) and/or endoscopy (using a flexible scope to visualize the vocal folds when symptomatic).  Treatment may include medical management, such as treatment for allergies or reflux which are irritants to the throat, and breath retraining exercises provided by a speech pathologist to maintain the vocal folds in an open relaxed position with increased exertion.  This diagnosis typically responds well to treatment.  

These therapy services are available at Voicetrainer, LLC.

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