Speech and Language Therapy for Management of Chronic Cough

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Slinger, C., Mehdi, S. B., et al. (2019).

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 7, CD013067.

This systematic review examines the effectiveness of speech and language therapy in individuals with unexplained chronic cough.

The Cochrane Collaboration

Up to February 8, 2019

Randomized controlled trials

2

<div>Two studies met the inclusion criteria for this review regarding the impact of speech therapy intervention on chronic cough in adults. Both interventions included 4 sessions with a focus on counseling, education, and training. Included topics included: trigger reduction therapy (e.g., vocal hygiene, hydration, trigger avoidance), cough suppression techniques and volitional control, and the idiopathic nature of cough. Additional focus was placed on exercise and physical activity, diet and nutritional advice, and stress management. Specific findings included:</div> <div> <ul> <li>Immediately following treatment, there were improvements in the number of coughs, the severity of cough-related symptoms, and in overall clinical presentation.&nbsp;</li> <li>There were no improvements&nbsp; in the subjective measures of cough or cough reflex sensitivity.</li> <li>One study showed positive effects in health-related quality of life and cough frequency for up to 4 weeks after speech and language intervention, although these improvements only lasted four weeks post-treatment.</li> </ul> <div>Additional research is indicated due to the small number of studies and small overall sample sizes.</div> </div>