The Effect of a Vocal Loading Test on Cough and Phonation in Patients With Chronic Cough
Anne E Vertigan1, Sarah M Kapela1, Ingolf Franke2
1John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, Australia; Centre for Asthma, and Respiratory Disease, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
Objective/Hypothesis:
Talking is a significant trigger for cough in patients with chronic cough; however, the stimulus required to trigger cough has not been quantified. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a vocal loading task on phonation and cough behavior in patients with chronic cough and identify change following therapy.
Study Design:
This is a prospective observational study.
Methods:
This study involved 33 patients with chronic cough. Participants were assessed with the lingWAVES Vocal Loading Test protocol before and after intervention for chronic cough.
Results:
At baseline, almost 40% of patients had impaired vocal function and were unable to complete the vocal loading test. This improved following therapy, with 94% of patients being able to complete the test at follow-up. There was difficulty maintaining phonation, with 60% of the task unvoiced at baseline. This improved following therapy. The vocal loading test triggered coughing in 58% of patients; however, this improved following intervention. Acoustic measures during the vocal loading test did not change following therapy.
Conclusion:
Phonation is an important trigger for cough. Patients with chronic cough demonstrated impaired performance on tests of vocal loading. Most parameters improved following therapy.
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