Our Diagnosis & Treatment Approach

"Dr. Sher’s and Center For Cough’s treatment program is very easy to follow.  After only an initial consultation, I noticed an immediate change.  Now, I feel more poised and more in control." - Tom D., Charlottesville, VA

Center For Cough identifies all the causes of your cough and initiates a comprehensive treatment plan rather than following a sequential trial and error approach. Some of the causes of cough may be silent. A silent cause is one where cough is the only symptom. These causes must be properly diagnosed in order to be effectively treated.

The initial consultation includes a thorough medical history and physical exam exploring your cough symptoms and their effects on daily activities. Previous physician visits, laboratory testing, x-rays, and diagnostic procedures will be reviewed. Based on this evaluation, further testing may be performed at the initial visit including: allergy testing, lung function testing, expired nitrous oxide (to assess lung inflammation) and rhinoscopy.

In some cases, Center For Cough will refer patients out for more diagnostic testing. At the conclusion of the initial visit, Dr. Sher and you will discuss treatment options and you will leave the appointment with a treatment plan.

Personalized and Comprehensive Treatment Plan

There may be several contributing factors for your cough. The causes may include a combination of asthma, postnasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux disease, medications, and a behavioral component. After Dr. Sher has identified the conditions contributing to your cough, a personalized and comprehensive treatment plan targeted at the causes will be created aimed at cough improvement or resolution. Treatment options may include one or more of the following components: