Health and voice quality in smokers: an exploratory investigation

Thirty-two adults (20 smokers and 12 non-smokers) were examined to determine the effects of cigarette smoking on health (diseases and larynx histology), on fundamental frequency (regularity and jitter) and stress level. The examination consisted of nasovideostroboscopy analysis, history case, electrolaryngography assessment for different task performance and self-assessment of stress. Although not statistically different, results indicate that smokers in comparison to non-smokers show: 1) slightly more health problems; 2) histological larynx changes; 3) a higher level of stress; 4) a lower mean F0 for all speech tasks. A statistically significant difference for percentage jitter was found according to voice status for: 1) vowel [a] (the group with voice problems show higher levels of jitter than both groups without voice problems); 2) vowel [i] (the smokers with voice problems show higher levels of jitter than the smokers without voice problems).