AIM: The goal of this study was to make the laryngological, auditory perceptual and acoustic computer analyses of young adults' (smokers and non-smokers) voices, without vocal complaint, compare them and verify the incidence of vocal alterations. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical comparative. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The voices of 80 individuals with age range from 20 to 40 years were analyzed. These individuals were divided in four groups: 20 male smokers, 20 male non-smokers, 20 female smokers and 20 female non-smokers. This analysis involved laryngoscopy, which was performed and interpreted by an otolaryngologist, and cassette tape recordings of the sustained vowels /a/, /m/, /i/ e /u/, number counting from 1 to 20, speech of the days of the week, months of the year and singing of "Happy Birthday". The cassette tape recordings were edited for further spectrographic analysis and auditory perceptual evaluation made by four speech therapists experienced in the major of voice. RESULTS: After the analysis, a slight reduction of the fundamental frequency of the voice of smokers of both sexes was noticed, as well as higher incidence of hoarseness and laryngeal alterations among the smokers.
voice; smoking; tobacco; voice quality; fundamental frequency
