FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT CAUSES IT?

Multiple factors, presenting themselves at the same time.

WHAT DO I DO WHEN IT HAPPENS?

Several options
(1) Relaxation/breathing exercises taught by a Speech Pathologist./oxygen sometimes helps.
(2) Hospital treatment – for severe episodes, Heliox administered in a hospital will relieve symptoms, though it is not a cure.

WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT IT?

Start educating yourself. Focus on prevention, rather than treatment.
Learn what your factors are that cause you to have spasms.

WHAT TYPES OF DOCTORS DO I NEED?

Treatment must be from a multi-disciplinary approach. In other words, look for every cause and treat that specific cause individually. Remember, you will probably not find one doctor in your area who 'treats VCD'. You will probably need multiple doctors for the condition's multiple componants.

Start with a good Laryngologist, or a good ENT doctor. ASK if he/she treats VCD patients. We saw several before finding one who really understood the laryngospasm episodes. Other medical specialists you might find helpful include Gastroenterentologists, Speech Pathologists, and others, depending on your causes.

We have learned that the main causes of Amanda's VCD episodes, are acid reflux, post-nasal drip, and changes in hormones. Therefore we have focused on physicians who specialize in treatment those problems.