Speech Pathology Intervention for Chronic Refractory Cough: A Pilot Study Examining the Benefit of Using Prerecorded Videos as an Adjunct to Therapy.

Speech pathology intervention is effective for chronic refractory cough (CRC). Speech pathology treatment for CRC includes therapy exercises to teach cough suppression and reduce laryngeal closure during respiration.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of providing patients with supplemental pre-recorded videos of speech pathology exercises for chronic refractory cough (CRC) to assist with patients' independent practice. These videos were pre-made recordings of the treating speech pathologist demonstrating specific exercises for chronic cough suppression.

METHOD: This study was a prospective randomized controlled trial design. Participants included 18 adult patients attending a speech pathology outpatient clinic in a tertiary referral hospital for treatment of CRC. Participants were randomized to receive either standard speech pathology intervention (SPI) for CRC combined with supplemental pre-recorded videos for home practice or standard SPI alone. The primary outcome measure was a rating of accuracy during demonstration of the speech pathology exercises for cough suppression. This rating was assigned by the treating speech pathologist from session 2 onwards. The treating speech pathologist asked the patient to demonstrate the exercises they had been practising since the last speech pathology session. Secondary outcome measures included the Symptom Frequency and Severity Rating Scale, Leicester Cough Questionnaire, and Consensus Auditory Perceptual Evaluation of Voice.

RESULTS: There was a significant pre- to post-treatment improvement in both groups however the degree of improvement was not significantly different between the two groups.

CONCLUSION: The addition of supplemental pre-recorded videos of SPI for CRC did not lead to greater accuracy of therapy exercise practice or superior treatment outcomes than standard SPI alone.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST: There are no interests to declare.