The effect of acute xerostomia on vocal function

Objective: To evaluate whether xerostomia can affect vocal function in an experimental model. Design: Randomized controlled study. Setting: Academic center. Subjects: Twenty healthy young men. Interventions: Glycopyrrolate was administered to induce acute xerostomia in 10 men, and saline was administered to 10 men who served as controls. Main Outcome Measures: Whole salivary now 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. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that vocal function can be affected by xerostomia.