What Is a Chronic Cough?

A cough that lasts eight weeks or longer is considered chronic. While short-term coughs are usually tied to colds or respiratory infections, chronic coughs are often driven by ongoing irritation or inflammation in the throat and airway.Common contributors include postnasal drip, reflux, allergies, asthma, upper respiratory infections, environmental irritants, and sometimes hypersensitivity of the laryngeal nerves, as seen in ILS. Signs it’s time to see a specialist: A cough lasting more than 4 weeks Voice changes, throat soreness, or breathing discomfort Coughing that disrupts sleep or daily activities Accompanying symptoms such as globus sensation, burning, or throat tightness Seek urgent care for severe symptoms such as high fever, chest pain, coughing up blood, or difficulty breathing.

Throat Clearing: Why It Becomes Habitual

Frequent throat clearing is one of the most common symptoms of laryngeal irritation. You may feel like something is “stuck” or that mucus needs to be cleared. But often, the throat is producing normal secretion. The nerves have simply become more reactive. Throat clearing provides temporary relief, but just like scratching a mosquito bite, it ultimately makes the irritation worse. The more you clear your throat, the more sensitive and inflamed the area becomes, creating a familiar and exhausting cycle.

What Is Irritable Larynx Syndrome (ILS)?

ILS is a condition in which the larynx becomes overly sensitive due to chronic irritation. This heightened sensitivity triggers symptoms that may include: Chronic cough or throat clearing Globus sensation (a lump or tickle in the throat) Throat burning or discomfort Tightness in the throat or neck Effort or pain with swallowing Voice changes In severe cases, laryngospasm (sudden episodes where the throat tightens and breathing feels difficult)

Common triggers and irritants

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) Postnasal drainage Allergies or environmental irritants Upper respiratory infections Smoke, perfumes, strong odors Cold or dry air Stress or strong emotions Muscle tension in the larynx These irritants “train” the laryngeal nerves to become over-responsive, causing the throat to misfire and overreact even when nothing dangerous is present.

Chronic Cough, Throat Clearing & Irritable Larynx Syndrome (ILS)

Understanding the Cycle and How to Break It

A chronic cough or constant need to clear your throat can be frustrating, exhausting, and disruptive to daily life. When these symptoms linger for weeks or months, they often share a common cause: irritation and hypersensitivity of the larynx (voice box). At the Align Voice & Throat Institute, Dr. Lawrence Kashat specializes in diagnosing and treating these conditions, including Irritable Larynx Syndrome (ILS), with a comprehensive, evidence-based approach that gets to the root of your symptoms, not just the surface.

How We Diagnose the Cause of Your Symptoms

Dr. Kashat performs a detailed evaluation to understand what is driving your cough or throat clearing. This may include:

A thorough medical and symptom history
Laryngoscopy or videostroboscopy to view the larynx
Assessment of swallowing function
Evaluation for reflux, allergies, or postnasal drainage
Review of medications or lifestyle factors that may contribute

This allows Dr. Kashat to determine whether your symptoms stem from ILS, reflux, muscle tension, inflammation, or a combination.

How We Treat Chronic Cough, Throat Clearing & ILS

Behavioral & Therapy-Based Treatment

The first-line treatment for ILS and chronic throat clearing is specialized voice therapy with a speech-language pathologist. Therapy focuses on:

Throat desensitization techniques
Respiratory retraining
Reducing laryngeal muscle tension
Efficient voice and breathing patterns
Strategies to interrupt cough or clearing reflexes

Medical Treatment

Depending on what’s contributing to your symptoms, treatment may also include:

Reflux management
Allergy treatment
Medication adjustments
Addressing postnasal drainage
Hydration and throat-care strategies
Neuromodulating medications for severe nerve hypersensitivity

When Chronic Cough or Throat Clearing Becomes More Serious

Left untreated, ongoing coughing and clearing can further irritate the vocal folds — much like clapping your hands repeatedly will eventually cause redness and pain. Over time, this cycle can lead to voice changes, discomfort, and worsening symptoms.

Early evaluation and treatment can stop the progression and restore comfort to your throat and voice.

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Kashat

If chronic cough, throat clearing, or throat discomfort is affecting your daily life, you don’t have to wait for it to worsen. Dr. Lawrence Kashat offers expert, comprehensive care for complex laryngeal disorders — including chronic cough and Irritable Larynx Syndrome — helping you breathe, speak, and swallow more comfortably.

Take the first step toward relief.
Book an Appointment Today