Short‐duration accelerated breathing challenges affect phonation

Inhaled air must be adequately humidified to prevent vocal fold drying, which is detrimental to phonation. The water content of inspired air is reduced by parameters, such as increased breathing rate and oral route. Accelerated oral breathing challenges induce airway dehydration and are posited to affect airway function. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether accelerated oral breathing challenges are detrimental to phonation. The secondary objective of this study was to determine whether individuals at increased risk for developing voice problems (i.e., smokers) have greater adverse phonatory effects after accelerated breathing challenge than nonsmoking controls.