What is Laryngeal Recalibration Therapy™?
Laryngeal Recalibration Therapy™ (LRT) is a clinician-directed treatment program for persistent throat symptoms, such as chronic cough, frequent throat clearing, a lump or tight feeling in the throat, voice changes, breathing difficulty, or discomfort with swallowing.
Persistent throat symptoms can continue even after the original irritation or medical problem has improved. Over time, the throat and nervous system can become highly sensitive and develop automatic patterns that keep symptoms going. LRT is designed to help interrupt these patterns and restore a more normal response.
Your clinician will guide treatment in three main areas:
1. Retraining the throat
Your clinician will identify the specific behaviors that may be contributing to your symptoms and teach techniques to improve them. Depending on your needs, this may include strategies for suppressing cough or throat clearing, relaxing the throat, improving breathing, voice or swallowing patterns, and addressing relevant diet or lifestyle factors.
2. Calming and retraining the nervous system
The throat is closely connected to the autonomic nervous system, which automatically regulates functions such as breathing, heart rate and digestion. Your clinician will use slow, paced breathing and heart rate variability (HRV) training to help you learn how to shift your body into a calmer, more regulated state.
You will be given a personalized breathing rate to practice at home. Your clinician may also prescribe HRV Paced Breathing Music, which uses music to guide your breathing without requiring you to watch a screen.
3. Changing the way your body responds to symptoms
When throat symptoms persist, the brain can become increasingly attentive and reactive to throat sensations. LRT teaches practical strategies to reduce this cycle. You will learn ways to respond differently to sensations, stress and automatic thoughts so that symptoms become less disruptive and your attention can return to everyday activities.
Between visits
Your clinician will select exercises for you to practice at home. These may include your prescribed breathing program, throat retraining techniques, and brief exercises designed to reinforce the skills introduced during treatment.
The goal is to help your throat and nervous system develop a more appropriate and adaptable response so that symptoms become less frequent, less intense and less disruptive to daily life.
LRT Research
Laryngeal Recalibration Therapy is currently being evaluated in a large randomized clinical trial at UC San Diego comparing LRT with usual care for patients with persistent throat symptoms.