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Effect of caffeine on the vocal folds: a pilot study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

S. Akhtar ,
G. Wood ,
J. S. Rubin ,
P. E. O'Flynn  and
P. Ratcliffe
S. Akhtar*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK.
G. Wood
Affiliation:
Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK.
J. S. Rubin
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK.
P. E. O'Flynn
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK.
P. Ratcliffe
Affiliation:
Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK.
*
Address for correspondence: Ms Shadaba Akhtar, F.R.C.S., E.N.T. SpR, Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital, 330–331 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8DA.
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Abstract

Caffeine is considered to be a dehydrating agent with detrimental effects on the quality of voice of persons ingesting it. This has led medical personnel dealing with voice disorders, especially in the case of professional voice users, to give advice against the use of caffeine. Yet this is an anecdotal truth as an extensive Medline literature search did not reveal any scientific evidence of caffeine being proven to have adverse effects on the vocal folds. We, therefore, initiated this pilot study to ascertain the connection between caffeine and voice quality on a laboratory basis. Two hundred and fifty mg of caffeine were provided to eight volunteers in tablet form, and blood levels along with laryngograph readings were recorded to document the changes produced. Analysing the irregularities of frequencies in a) free speech b) a reading passage and c) singing ‘Happy Birthday’, substantial changes were seen to authenticate the fact that caffeine does produce alterations in voice quality but these alterations have considerable intrasubject variability. A full study with wider parameters is to be performed on this subject as we consider it to be of importance in the management of voice disorders.

Keywords

CaffeineDehydrationVocal fold
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 113 , Issue 4 , April 1999 , pp. 341 - 345
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1999

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