The effect of acute xerostomia on vocal function.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether xerostomia can affect vocal function in an experimental model.


METHODS
Randomized controlled study.


METHODS
Academic center.


METHODS
Twenty healthy young men.


METHODS
Glycopyrrolate was administered to induce acute xerostomia in 10 men, and saline was administered to 10 men who served as controls.


METHODS
Whole salivary flow rate and dry mouth scale were time-serially measured, and subjective and objective vocal functions were checked before and after treatment. The salivary and vocal functions were compared between groups.


RESULTS
Significant salivary hypofunction and symptoms developed within 90 minutes after the administration of glycopyrrolate. Vocal effort and phonation threshold pressure significantly increased (P<.005) and voice range profiles decreased in the xerostomia group (P = .003) but not in the control group. Other voice parameters were comparable between groups (P>.05). High correlations were also found between salivary and vocal parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that vocal function can be affected by xerostomia.
Roh
Jong-Lyel
JL
Department of Otolaryngology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. rohjl@amc.seoul.kr
Kim
Hyo Seon
HS
Kim
Ah-Young
AY
D000328:Adult; D006024:Glycopyrrolate; D006801:Humans; D007830:Larynx / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010699:Phonation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012472:Salivation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014833:Voice Quality / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*
D006024:Glycopyrrolate