Based on these findings, we wondered whether the assessment of laryngeal responsiveness as a marker of an irritable larynx might help in evaluating the role of upper airway receptors in the pathogenesis of CC, particularly in cases in which both upper and lower airway receptors might be involved, as in asthma and GERD. We reasoned that the presence of LHR, irrespective of whether it is associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), would provide useful information for optimizing cough treatment.