Breathing

Have you ever been told that you are a “dysfunctional breather”? Have you been prescribed medication for asthma, but don’t feel like it really helps? Sometimes, problems with breathing can arise because of how the larynx and vocal cords are functioning. This type of breathing disorder is now called inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO) and can be treated with a form of speech therapy targeting laryngeal function. Sometimes, it is only apparent when someone exercises, when it is called “exercise induced laryngeal obstruction” (EILO).

Historically, this condition was called “vocal cord dysfunction” or “paradoxical vocal cord motion”, but the terminology has been updated as a result of recent international research. It is a very difficult condition to diagnose medically and you may be someone who has visited multiple different medical professionals but not reached a clear or unifying diagnosis. If this is you, or you have been diagnosed with ILO/EILO, I can help. Please do contact me here.