Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO)

What Is Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO)?

Inducible laryngeal obstruction (ILO) is a problem that makes it hard to breathe or use your voice. ILO can happen to children and adults.

When you have ILO, your vocal cords tighten up and block air from getting to your lungs. This makes breathing difficult.

Normally when you take a breath, your vocal folds (also known as vocal cords) open to let air into your lungs. ILO happens when certain triggers such as exercise, smoke, or stress, cause the vocal folds to close when they should be open. Closed vocal folds block air from getting to your lungs, making it difficult to breathe and use your voice. You may not have any other problems with your breathing or voice except when ILO happens.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of ILO?

There are many signs and symptoms of ILO including:

• coughing fits
• lightheadedness
• noisy breathing
• sudden difficulty breathing air in
• sudden loss of voice 
• tightness in the throat
• tingling in the hands and feet

ILO is sometimes mistaken for asthma. Treatment for asthma and ILO are different, so it is important that you get a correct diagnosis.

What Causes ILO?

The exact cause of ILO is not known, but it may be triggered by:

• acid reflux
• breathing in cold air
• exercise and over-exertion
• lung infections
• smoke or pollen
• stress
• strong, irritating smells

People with ILO may experience relief when they remove some triggers, such as by reducing effort while exercising or removing irritating smells.

What Does Testing for ILO Look Like?

Finding out if you have ILO takes a team of professionals working together. SLPs are important members of this team. The team may also include different types of doctors such as:

• allergy doctor (allergist)
• ear, nose, and throat doctor (otolaryngologist)
• lung doctor (pulmonologist)
• mental health professional (psychologist)
• stomach doctor (gastroenterologist)
• regular doctor (primary care provider)

ILO is hard to diagnose, because it can feel a lot like other breathing problems. Your team will look at your medical history and ask you questions about when your breathing is difficult. They'll also run tests to make sure nothing else is causing your breathing problems.

Your SLP or doctor might use a small camera called an endoscope to look at your vocal cords. This camera goes through your mouth or nose.

They might also use a special flashing light called a stroboscope to watch how your vocal cords move when you breathe and talk.

What Does Treatment for ILO Look Like?

The goal of treatment for ILO is to:

• Figure out what triggers your ILO.
• Help your vocal cords open normally and stay open when you breathe.

Medical treatment: If you have other health problems like allergies or acid reflux that trigger your ILO, you might need medicine or other treatments for those conditions.

Counseling support: If stress or anxiety triggers your ILO, talking with a mental health professional can help you learn ways to manage these feelings.

Working with an SLP: Your SLP will teach you about ILO and help you understand what might trigger it. They'll show you special breathing techniques and other strategies that can help to keep your vocal cords open. Your SLP might use an endoscope camera, so you can see how your vocal cords are moving.

To find an SLP near you, visit ProFind.

Resources

Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement.

• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
• American Thoracic Society: Patient Information [PDF]
• Kids Health: Vocal Cord Dysfunction