Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD): Treatment

Once diagnosed with vocal cord dysfunction (VCD), a specific treatment program can begin. If VCD is the only condition, asthma medications or other medications may be stopped. If both asthma and VCD are diagnosed, asthma medications may be continued, but are often decreased. Treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), laryngopharyngeal reflux, and postnasal drip should be started if these are present.

There are many special exercises and therapies that help control VCD. Speech-language pathology(speech therapy) is a very important part of the treatment for VCD. Special exercises increase your awareness of abdominal breathing and relax your throat muscles. This enables you to have more control of your vocal folds and throat. Learning cough suppression and throat clearing techniques can also be extremely helpful. Practicing these techniques when symptom free ensures effective use of them during an episode. All of the exercises are aimed at overcoming abnormal vocal cord movements, controlling the vocal folds with the breath stream, and improving airflow into the lungs.

Another important part of treatment is supportive counseling. Counseling can help adjust to a new diagnosis and a new treatment program. Counseling can also help identify and deal positively with stress that may be an underlying factor in VCD. Most people with VCD find counseling to be very beneficial.

This information has been approved by Marcy Hicks, MS, CCC-SLP (July 2006).