Effects of environmental tobacco smoke on objective measures of voice production.
OBJECTIVE
The effects of passive smoking on the voice and laryngeal structures of 20 female passive smokers and 20 age-matched nonsmokers were examined.


METHODS
The voice evaluation consisted of acoustic, aerodynamic, and videostroboscopic analyses.


RESULTS
Three passive smokers displayed mild edema or erythema. Passive smokers had higher mean flow rates and shorter mean maximum phonation times during sustained vowels at comfortable, low-, and high-pitch levels. However, means were only outside normal limits and significantly different from nonsmokers at high pitch. Variables such as the number of years and hours per day subjects were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke were considered.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of the variables indicated that vocal fold structure and function were not adversely altered by exposure to passive smoke. Differences between these results and clinical observations are highlighted.
Lee
L
L
University of Cincinnati Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, OH 45221-0394, USA. linda.lee@uc.edu
Stemple
J C
JC
Geiger
D
D
Goldwasser
R
R
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010699:Phonation / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D014831:Voice / Q000502:physiology
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution