quote:Originally posted by TheWatchman:
He said in an interview that this has affected his voice and hearing. He also had a trach and his voice was already pretty weak before that. I guess we'll have to wait and see if he ever sings in public again. One thing for certain though is that the negative effects that smoking has had on his voice is ir-reversible.
Not always irreversible. Smoking causes irritation and edema (swelling) of vocal cords and larynx. The edema is much reduced with smoking cessation, though it can take 6 months to a year. I think we had this conversation last fall, but I mentioned somewhere or other about a switchboard operator we had who smoked like the proverbial chimney and sounded like Selma Diamond (gravel on sandpaper). After untold years of heavy smoking, she quit -- and lost all the hoarseness. I never would have known her by her "new" voice.
Voice weakness is in part a function of general health. The "old people" voice you often hear in the elderly is not something that happens when you get old; it is affected by physical conditioning. Improved aerobic fitness and strength training reduces or eliminates the quavering voice older people get. I expect he will indeed sing in public again (and, Lord knows, lesser voices than his have made a very good living at singing in public.)
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