Alternatives to Acid Suppression Treatment for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology
Huestis, M. J., Keefe, K. R., et al. (2020).
The Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology, 129(10), 1030-1039.
This systematic review compares the effects of alternative, non-pharmacological treatments to placebo or proton-pump inhibitor therapy in individuals with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) or with LPR symptoms. This summary highlights conclusions within the scope of speech-language pathology.
No funding received
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Excludes single-case reports (not further specified)
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<div>In individuals with laryngopharyngeal reflux with dysphonia symptoms, direct or indirect voice therapy combined with proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy improved Reflux Symptoms Index scores and improved vocal symptoms compared to PPI therapy alone. The authors note limitations in the methodologies of the included studies.</div>
<div>In one study of adults with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and chronic cough symptoms:</div>
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<ul>
<li><strong>respiratory retraining </strong>(i.e., active expiration using abdominal muscles and relaxation of the oropharyngeal muscles) improved cough frequency and severity; and</li>
<li><strong>respiratory retraining combined with proton-pump inhibitor therapy</strong> improved cough frequency and severity, laryngeal sensory response, and other LPR symptoms.</li>
</ul>
<div>Limitations to these findings include an overall lack of available research and low-quality evidence. </div>
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