Speech and Language Therapy is evidence based, effective treatment for chronic refractory cough (medically unexplained persistent coughing for more than 8 weeks).โฃ
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๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐จ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐จ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฌ??โฃ
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Initial assessment is very detailed and involves taking a medical, social and psychological history. Laryngoscopy is an examination of the voice box which rules out any laryngeal pathology and is often very reassuring for cough patients. Part of our role is to ensure all medical investigations for cough and medication checks are complete. Assessment will include patient rated outcome measures and symptom frequency and severity ratings. โฃ
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Education is key to improving awareness and motivation for effective treatment. Speech therapy helps facilitate patients to control their cough. โฃ
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Cough control strategies – various techniques for this. Teaching and modelling from SLT and lots of practice.โฃ
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Throat care is vital to optimise hydration and comfort in the upper airway. Advice about acid reflux management, hydration, good inhaler technique, diet, sleep, lifestyle, voice use, posture might be included here.โฃ
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Head and neck tension release – exercises and strategies for improving muscle tension balance in the neck and shoulders. This area of our bodies is prone to holding tension and its very muscular. Tension is common. โฃ
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Voice Therapy techniques for easy, relaxed, resonant voice and optimal use of our instrument, particularly important for the professional voice user who is also coughing.โฃ
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Taking a counselling approach to supporting patients. There is a link between anxiety and cough. Chronic cough can significantly impact on quality of life and cause distress, relationship problems and confidence issues. Even more so now during the Covid 19 pandemic. โฃ
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Taking a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of chronic cough is gold standard. Physiotherapists are very often involved if there is a breathing pattern disorder or if the patient also has asthma, COPD or bronchiectasis. โฃHaving clinical psychology input is also helpful.
Category: Cough