This forum aims to provide speech-language pathologists with clinical considerations and a tutorial for the assessment and treatment of breath pattern disorders. Specific areas of discussion include sleep apnea, long COVID, inducible laryngeal obstruction, and integrative breathing therapy perspectives on dysfunctional breathing in voice and upper airway disorders.

Learning Outcomes 
You will be able to:

• explain the overlap between dysfunctional breathing patterns and laryngeal breathing disorders
• describe the potential role of speech-language pathologists in a multidiscipline team for treating obstructive sleep apnea
• summarize how dysfunctional breathing patterns might aggravate or sustain symptoms such as dyspnea, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties in individuals with long COVID
• implement evidence-based treatment strategies for inducible laryngeal obstruction, including laryngeal control and respiratory retraining techniques tailored to patient-specific triggers
• list the three aspects of a holistic approach to treating exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction
• apply three levels of treatment strategies in their daily practice of working with individuals with breathing pattern disorders

Assessment Type  
Self-assessment—Think about what you learned and report on the Completion Form how you will use your new knowledge.

Articles in This Course

1. An Introduction to Breath Pattern Disorders and Clinical Considerations for Treatment by Miriam van Mersbergen, published in SIG 3, December 4, 2025
2. Integrative Breathing Therapy Perspectives on Dysfunctional Breathing in Voice and Upper Airway Disorders by Rosalba Courtney, published in SIG 3, December 1, 2025
3. The Role of Speech-Language Pathologists in Adults With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring by Ann Kearney, published in SIG 3, June 9, 2025
4. Addressing Dysfunctional Breathing in Patients With Long COVID-Related Speech and Upper Airway Symptoms: Two Case Studies by Hadas Golan, published in SIG 3, September 22, 2025
5. Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction: A Clinical Primer for Speech-Language Pathologists by Abbey Tabor, Teresa Procter, Emily Nauman, and Claudio Milstein, published in SIG 3, November 13, 2025
6. Breathing Pattern Disorder: A New Kid on the Block by Claudio F. Milstein and Miriam van Mersbergen, published in SIG 3, October 29, 2025
7. Treatment Outcomes Following a Holistic Breathing Approach for Exercise-Induced Laryngeal Obstruction by Sharon D. Frank, Anastasia M. Raymer, and Paul J. Frank, published in SIG 3, September 25, 2025