Compass is still being developed and is effectively in beta. Some content and features may be incomplete, change, or not work as expected.
Content is anchored to trusted sources where available, but Compass has not yet been clinically reviewed. It provides general information rather than medical advice.
Feedback helps us identify gaps, errors, usability problems and opportunities to improve Compass over time.
ALS Respiratory Guide
Part of Your ALS Guide
Open source (opens in a new tab)Link checked August 2026
About this source
Your ALS Guide’s practical guide.
Where this source is used
Used in 51 places across 2 domains.
People who may help
Doctors
- Respiratory physician
What this person does, and where they sit in a team
Questions
Breathing
Non-Invasive Ventilation
- My NIV mask is uncomfortable. What can I do?
Used across the whole answer
- What assessments help decide whether NIV is relevant for me?
Used across the whole answer
- What does using NIV feel like day to day?
Used across the whole answer
Respiratory Testing
- What breathing symptoms should I tell my team about between appointments?
Used across the whole answer
- What breathing tests might I have, and what do they measure?
Used across the whole answer
- What do my breathing test results mean, and what happens if they change?
Used across the whole answer
- What should I ask about my breathing tests?
Used across the whole answer
- Why is breathing monitored in ALS/MND, and what changes are we watching for?
Used across the whole answer
Respiratory Consult
- What does a respiratory specialist or team do in ALS/MND care?
Used across the whole answer
- What happens at a respiratory appointment?
Used across the whole answer
- What should I ask at a respiratory appointment?
Used across the whole answer
Resources
Breathing
- Cough Assist Devices
Further reading
A plain-language overview of how breathing and coughing change in ALS and the support options that can help, giving you the big picture before talking to your team.
- Invasive Ventilation
Further reading
A plain-language overview of breathing support options in ALS, helping you understand where invasive ventilation fits among the choices.
- Non-Invasive Ventilation
Further reading
A plain-language guide to breathing changes in ALS/MND that explains how NIV and BiPAP support breathing and what to expect, so you can prepare for the conversation early.
- Respiratory Testing
Further reading
A plain-language overview of how breathing is affected in ALS and how it is checked over time, so you know what the tests are looking for.
- Respiratory Consult
Further reading
A plain-language overview of how breathing changes in ALS and what respiratory care involves, so you know what the respiratory team helps with and what to expect.
- Sleep Study
Further reading
Overview of how ALS affects breathing, the tests involved, and how sleep fits into the bigger respiratory picture.
Invasive Ventilation
- Can I plan ahead, and can the decision change later?
Further reading
Overview of breathing-support options in ALS/MND
- How do I approach this decision, and who can help?
Further reading
Overview of breathing-support options in ALS/MND
- What are the possible benefits and burdens to weigh up?
Further reading
Overview of breathing-support options in ALS/MND for context
- What is daily life like with a tracheostomy and ventilator?
Further reading
Overview of breathing-support options and the care they involve
- What is invasive ventilation, and how is it different from NIV?
Further reading
Plain-language overview of breathing support options in ALS/MND, including how ventilation works
- When might invasive ventilation become a decision, including in an emergency?
Further reading
Overview of breathing support options in ALS/MND as breathing changes
Non-Invasive Ventilation
- Can NIV help me live longer with ALS/MND?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, with plain-language pages on breathing changes and the ventilation options used in ALS/MND
- My NIV mask is uncomfortable. What can I do?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, with plain-language pages on mask and interface options and on adapting to ventilation
- What assessments help decide whether NIV is relevant for me?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, with plain-language pages on recognising respiratory changes and on the breathing tests used in ALS/MND
- What does using NIV feel like day to day?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, with plain-language pages on respiratory changes and on adapting to bilevel and portable NIV
- What is Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) and how does it work?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, with plain-language pages on respiratory symptoms and on bilevel and portable NIV
- What should I ask my respiratory team about NIV?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, with plain-language pages on breathing changes, monitoring and the devices you may want to ask about
- When should I start using NIV?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, with plain-language pages on recognising breathing changes and on monitoring breathing
Respiratory Consult
- How does respiratory care fit with the rest of my care team?
Further reading
How respiratory care fits within ALS/MND multidisciplinary care
- What does a respiratory specialist or team do in ALS/MND care?
Further reading
Overview of respiratory care in ALS/MND
- What happens at a respiratory appointment?
Further reading
What to expect from respiratory care in ALS/MND
- What should I ask at a respiratory appointment?
Further reading
Background on respiratory care to help frame your questions
- When might I be referred for specialist respiratory support?
Further reading
Recognising breathing changes that may prompt specialist input
Respiratory Testing
- How often will my breathing be checked?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, linking to plain-language pages on breathing changes, tests and support
- What breathing symptoms should I tell my team about between appointments?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, linking to plain-language pages on breathing changes, tests and support
- What breathing tests might I have, and what do they measure?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, linking to plain-language pages on breathing changes, tests and support
- What do my breathing test results mean, and what happens if they change?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, linking to plain-language pages on breathing changes, tests and support
- What should I ask about my breathing tests?
Further reading
Background on breathing tests to help you frame your questions
- Why is breathing monitored in ALS/MND, and what changes are we watching for?
Further reading
Your ALS Guide's respiratory section, linking to plain-language pages on breathing changes, tests and support
Cough Assist Devices
- What can help with thick or hard-to-clear mucus?
Further reading
Overview of managing secretions and respiratory comfort in ALS/MND
- Why can coughing and clearing mucus become harder in ALS/MND?
Further reading
Overview of respiratory changes and support in ALS/MND
Medical Care
- Saliva Management
Further reading
A plain-language guide to breathing and secretions in ALS that explains why saliva can become thick and sticky and what can help loosen and clear it.
Saliva Management
- How do saliva problems relate to swallowing and breathing?
Further reading
Guide to breathing symptoms and respiratory support in ALS/MND
- What can help with thick or sticky saliva?
Further reading
Guide to respiratory equipment in ALS/MND, including cough assist and suction machines
- What can help with too much saliva or drooling?
Further reading
Guide to respiratory equipment in ALS/MND, including the suction machines used to clear saliva
- What should I ask my team about saliva management?
Further reading
Background on breathing symptoms and respiratory equipment in ALS/MND
- When should I raise saliva problems with my team?
Further reading
Guide to breathing symptoms in ALS/MND and how breathing is monitored
- Why can saliva and drooling become a problem in ALS/MND?
Further reading
Guide to breathing symptoms, monitoring and respiratory equipment in ALS/MND
This is an external source. Compass links to it and describes it but does not hold rights over it. Opening it takes you to the publisher’s own site.