Laryngeal findings and acoustic changes in light cigar smokers.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this prospective study was to look at the laryngeal findings and acoustic changes in light cigar smokers in comparison to nonsmokers, in the setting of a voice clinic. A total of 22 cigar smokers and 19 nonsmokers used as controls were enrolled in the study. Demographic data included age, number of years smoking, number of cigars per week, history of allergy, and history of reflux. The confounding effects of allergy and reflux were accounted for in the control group. Subjects underwent laryngeal endoscopy and acoustic analysis. On laryngeal endoscopy, the most common laryngeal finding was thick mucus. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of any of the laryngeal findings in cigar smokers vs. CONTROLS: In comparison with the control group, both the fundamental frequency and habitual pitch were significantly lower in cigar smokers (p value = 0.034 and 0.004, respectively). We conclude that cigar smokers have lower fundamental frequency and habitual pitch compared to nonsmokers.

Formant frequency in relation to body mass composition.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the relationship between total body mass composition and vowel formant frequency and formant dispersion in men. METHODS: A total of 60 healthy male volunteers were recruited. Formant frequencies and dispersions of F1, F2, F3, and F4 for the vowels /ɑː/ and /iː/ were determined using spectrographic analysis. RESULTS: The mean height and weight were 179.17 cm and 80.53 kg, respectively, with fat-free weight averaging to 67.02 kg (65.5% in the extremities vs 16.7% in the trunk). The body mass index (BMI) was 25.5 ± 3.34 kg/m(2). For the vowel /ɑː/, F1 and F4 correlated poorly with weight and trunk fat-free mass. There was also a poor negative correlation between F4 and muscle mass and body fat-free mass (r < 0.36). For the /iː/ vowel, there was a weak negative correlation between F2, F3, and F4 and height (r = -0.260, -0.299, and -0.320, respectively). Similarly, there was a negative correlation between F2 and muscle mass, trunk fat-free mass, and body fat-free mass (r = -0.291, -0.276, and -0.272, respectively). For the vowel /ɑː/, F1-F2 interspace correlated positively with fat weight, fat mass in the extremities, and trunk (r = 0.313, 0.350, and 0.264, respectively), whereas F2-F3 negatively correlated with weight (r = -0.255). For the /iː/ vowel, only F1-F2 negatively correlated with weight and BMI (r = -0.297 and -0.281). CONCLUSION: There is no significant correlation between body mass composition, formant frequencies, and dispersions. All the correlations were poor with r values less than 0.36.

Arytenoid asymmetry in relation to posture, neck tension and glottal attack in singers.

OBJECTIVES: To look at the incidence of arytenoid asymmetry in a group of healthy singers and to investigate whether the asymmetry correlates with posture, neck tension and glottal attack. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The medical records and video recordings of 42 singers were reviewed retrospectively. Posture, neck tension and glottal attack were evaluated in relation to arytenoid asymmetry during adduction. RESULTS: The number of singers was 42, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. The age range was 16-38 years, with a mean of 24±4.13 years. The total prevalence of arytenoid asymmetry was 50%, with a predominance in males and on the right side. The most common asymmetry was that of the cuneiform cartilages, accounting for 40.5% of the total sample and 81% of the total asymmetries. There was no correlation between arytenoid asymmetry and either posture, neck tension or glottal attack (p=0.343, 0.489 and 0.945, respectively). CONCLUSION: One out of 2 singers is likely to have arytenoid asymmetry during adduction. The presence of asymmetry does not correlate with posture, neck tension or glottal attack.

Effect of fasting on voice in males.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to study how fasting between 12 and 14 hours affects voice production. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective study of male subjects. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 26 healthy male subjects were recruited for the study. The age varied between 22 and 50 years with a mean of 28 years. Exclusion criteria included hoarseness at the time of presentation, history of recent upper respiratory tract infection, or microlaryngeal surgery. Subjects were evaluated while fasting and nonfasting. Each subject was asked about vocal fatigue and ease of phonation. This was followed by acoustic analyses and laryngeal videostroboscopy. RESULTS: The incidence of vocal fatigue was not higher while fasting compared to nonfasting (P = 1.00). Phonatory effort was significantly greater during fasting (P < .001). Fifty percent of the subjects had an increase in their phonatory effort. There was a significant decrease in the habitual pitch, voice turbulence index, and noise-to-harmonic ratio (P = .018, .045, and .001, respectively). There were no laryngeal videostroboscopic changes. CONCLUSION: Fasting in males results in an increase in phonatory effort. These phonatory changes may be secondary to dehydration as well as overall neuromuscular fatigability.

Laryngeal findings and acoustic changes in hubble-bubble smokers.

The purpose of our investigation was to evaluate the laryngeal findings and acoustic changes in hubble-bubble smokers. A total of 42 subjects with history of hubble-bubble smoking were recruited for this study. A corresponding group with a history of cigarette smoking and controls were matched. All subjects underwent laryngeal video-endostroboscopic evaluation and acoustic analysis. In the hubble-bubble smoking group, 61.9% were males. The average age was 30.02 +/- 9.48 years and the average number of years of smoking was 8.09 +/- 6.45 years. Three subjects had dysphonia at the time of examination. The incidence of benign lesions of the vocal folds in the hubble-bubble group was 21.5%, with edema being the most common at 16.7% followed by cyst at 4.8%. The incidence of laryngeal findings was significantly higher in the hubble-bubble group compared to controls. In the cigarette-smoking group, the most common finding was vocal fold cyst in 14.8% followed by polyps in 7.4%, and edema, sulcus vocalis and granuloma. These findings were not significantly different from the hubble-bubble group except for the thick mucus, which was significantly higher in the latter. There were no significant changes in any of the acoustic parameters between hubble-bubble smokers and controls except for the VTI and MPT, which were significantly lower in the hubble-bubble group. In comparison with the cigarette-smoking group, hubble-bubble smokers had significantly higher Fundamental frequency and habitual pitch (p value 0.042 and 0.008, respectively). The laryngeal findings in hubble-bubble smokers are comparable to cigarette smokers. These laryngeal findings are not translated acoustically, as all the acoustic parameters are within normal range compared to controls.