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Scoping review of the relationship between xerostomia and voice quality

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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Letter to the Editor to this article was published on 05 August 2023

Abstract

Purpose

This scoping review aims to synthesize all of the currently available information on how xerostomia correlates with vocal function and the mechanisms that underpin it.

Methods

Our scoping review used PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases to review articles published between January 1999 and July 2022 in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. In addition to the academic databases, we also conducted a manual search of Google Scholar. Further investigation was conducted on studies that examined the relationship between xerostomia and vocal function.

Results

Of the 682 initially identified articles, 21 met our inclusion criteria. Among the included studies, two articles (n = 2) revealed the mechanistic relationship between xerostomia and vocal function. Most studies (n = 12) focused on xerostomia secondary to other underlying conditions or treatments, among which radiotherapy and Sjögren’s syndrome were commonly investigated. Seven studies (n = 7) provided details about common vocal parameters measured in studies of xerostomia and the voice.

Conclusion

The literature currently lacks publications regarding the relationship between xerostomia and vocal function. Most of the studies included in this review were about xerostomia secondary to other conditions or medical treatments. Therefore, the impacts on the voice that were observed were very multifaceted and the role of xerostomia alone in phonation could not be ascertained. Nevertheless, it is clear that dryness in the mouth plays some role in vocal function and further research should focus on clarifying and finding the underlying mechanism behind this relationship by incorporating high-speed imaging and cepstral peak prominence analyses.

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Availability of data and material

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

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Acknowledgements

MAS is a recipient of the DenburTech, New Jersey Health Foundation, and TechAdvance Awards. This publication is dedicated to the memory of Dr. H. Afsar Lajevardi [35], a legendary pediatrician (1953–2015) who passed. We will never forget Dr. H Afsar Lajevardi's kindness and support. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the affiliated organizations. The authors hereby announce that they have active cooperation in this scientific study and preparation of the present manuscript. The authors confirm that they have no financial involvement with any commercial company or organization with direct financial interest regarding the materials used in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomaterial and Prosthodontics Laboratory, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA

    Mohammad Ali Saghiri

  2. Department of Endodontics, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Mohammad Ali Saghiri

  3. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Anna Vakhnovetsky

  4. Sector of Angiogenesis Regenerative Medicine, Dr. Hajar Afsar Lajevardi Research Cluster (DHAL), Hackensack, NJ, USA

    Julia Vakhnovetsky

  5. Biomaterial and Prosthodontics Laboratory, Department of Restorative Dentistry, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Newark, NJ, USA

    Julia Vakhnovetsky

Authors
  1. Mohammad Ali Saghiri
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Correspondence to Mohammad Ali Saghiri.

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Saghiri, M.A., Vakhnovetsky, A. & Vakhnovetsky, J. Scoping review of the relationship between xerostomia and voice quality. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 280, 3087–3095 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-07941-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-023-07941-x

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