Despite current knowledge about the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking, there continues to be a substantial population of smokers throughout the world. As an example, an estimated one-quarter of the adult population in the United States smokes cigarettes. Cigarette smoking is a habit common to men and women alike; however, the gap historically observed between male and female smokers has significantly decreased. Furthermore, data have been reported which indicate that smoking rates for women working in whitecollar occupations now exceed those of their whitecollar male counterparts. In addition, cigarette smoking is not a habit exclusive to adults. Most smokers began smoking as teenagers. In the United States, 82% began smoking before age 18, and despite widespread efforts to educate this group, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among teenagers has been on the rise since 1992. (Daniel F. Seidman, Lirio S. Covey, 1999)
It is evident that cigarette smoking may have significant effects on the phonatory and respiratory mechanisms. Because these mechanisms are integral components of the communication mechanism, the effects of smoking are of interest and concern to the speech pathologist. Several key documented effects on the respiratory/phonatory mechanism have been described:
Smokers are often afflicted with respiratory tract diseases such as pharyngitis, tracheitis, and bronchitis, which leave them susceptible to acute respiratory infections. In turn, acute respiratory infections compromise the respiratory system which is needed for voice production. Smoking has been related to irritation of the vocal fold mucosa, laryngitis, mucosal thickening, chronic edema, and erythema. In addition, association with the development of a number of precancerous conditions such as hyperkeratosis, leukoplakia, and polypoid degeneration has also been described.
Along with the mortality produced by smoking, general quality of life decreases as well. One study that examined the general health status of ever-smokers and never-smokers found that ever-smokers reported worse health in four of the eight parameters measured....
