Voice Changes During Puberty in Teenagers

Voice Changes During Puberty in Teenagers

Is your child’s voice cracking and sounding squeaky? Congratulations, puberty has officially arrived! This article is all about puberty voice change symptoms in teenagers. As your child goes through physical changes in the teen years, one of the most noticeable signs is a change in their voice. This is especially common in boys. While girls' voices do change during puberty, the shift is usually more subtle. In contrast, boys’ voice change is often more pronounced and sometimes dramatic. So, let’s explore what happens during the voice change in boys and how to support your child through this journey.

Evolution of the Human Voice Box

The larynx, or voice box, plays a vital role in speech and breathing. As children grow, so does their body—and the larynx is no exception. During puberty, both boys and girls experience anatomical changes. However, stages of male voice change are more significant. Before puberty, the vocal cords are about 2mm long. As teenagers grow, they lengthen—up to 10mm in girls and up to 16mm in boys. This growth contributes to the deepening of the voice. In boys, the teenager voice begins to sound lower and more mature because of these anatomical developments. At the same time, facial bones expand, allowing sound to resonate more, adding to the depth and strength of the voice.

Teenagers with phonotrauma

Your voice affects your ability to speak clearly. Teenagers are vulnerable to “phonotrauma” and other voice disorders in addition to the vocal changes associated with puberty. Teenagers (and even younger children) frequently abuse their voices by yelling or making loud noises, clearing their throats, and coughing excessively. These behaviours can lead to “phonotrauma,” a condition in which the vocal folds close in on themselves, causing blister-like bruises. As a result, the voice becomes hoarse.

What is the Adam’s Apple in Men?

The Adam’s Apple is also called the laryngeal prominence. Further, it is the cartilage covering the larynx. This is seen as a prominence bulging in the neck of men. It’s commonly called Adam’s apple taken from Adam and Eve’s story of the forbidden fruit. Furthermore, this laryngeal cartilage protects the voice box from harm since the larynx grows more in men, it’s visible in their neck region. It is cartilage covering the growing larynx and is a visible marker of puberty voice change in males. As boys grow, this area becomes more prominent, symbolizing the transformation to adulthood.

Why does the voice change?

The root cause of the voice change in boys lies in hormonal changes—primarily an increase in testosterone. The anatomical changes in the vocal cords and larynx are mentioned above. However, why does the voice change in puberty? Testosterone increases in boys during puberty. This causes lengthening and thickening in the larynx. However, in females, one can’t see these changes. In girls, the impact of estrogen and progesterone makes them sound feminine. In contrast, do girls’ voices change during puberty? Yes, but the influence of estrogen and progesterone causes only slight changes, resulting in a softer and slightly deeper tone, without the dramatic break seen in boys.

When does the voice change?

When do boys’ voices change? On average, boys begin experiencing voice changes between the ages of 12 and 13. This process continues until around age 15 to 18. Wondering, “when will my voice get deeper?” For most boys, what age your voice deepens depends on individual development, but it generally settles into a deeper tone by late adolescence. If your son hasn’t gone through this shift by age 18, it could be a sign of a voice development issue.

When Should You Expect Voice Changes?

Voice transformations do not occur in a vacuum. Increased testosterone levels during puberty cause numerous changes in the body, not just the voice.

However, the timing of voice changes during puberty is important because it occurs at a specific point during the overall changes that are taking place. When boys are between Tanner stages 3 and 4, their voices change. Tanner stages are the physical changes in a boy’s genitalia that occur during puberty. Your doctor determines your son’s Tanner Stage, so feel free to inquire about his puberty status at his next checkup. It may give you a hint if a voice change is on the way. When your son’s voice stops changing, his growth spurt begins to slow. This procedure can take two to three years to complete.

Puberty Voice Change Symptoms

Here are some common puberty voice change symptoms observed in teenage boys and girls:

• Voice cracks and sounds croaky

• Pitch range reduces

• Inability to sing in high pitches

• Voice sounds hoarse

• Voice and loudness breaks are common

However, these voice changes disappear and stabilize as the child grows.

Red Flags:

While every child develops at their own pace, you should be cautious if your son is 18 and hasn't shown signs of boy voice change. Red flags include:

• Usually, high pitched voice while speaking

• Voice sounds childlike and feminine

• Persistent hoarse voice

• Inability to shout or sing

• Breathy voice quality

Further, if you notice these issues, consult with a Speech Therapist/ Voice Therapist as soon as possible. Most of these voice issues are treated by voice therapy sessions by a professional.

Tips to Help Your Child with Voice Change:

Some kids go through a range of emotions during puberty. Dealing with a teenager voice transition can be emotionally challenging. Further, it’s hard, especially with the new change in voice. In other words, children feel embarrassed and conscious of themselves. Bullying at school is a common issue. Hence, be sensitive and watch out for any distress signs. So, here are some tips to support your child.

• Reassure your child these changes are a part of growing up

• Counsel them that the voice will stabilize soon

• Prepare him in advance that it’ll take time for the vocal system to reach its complete growth.

• Inform your child that this is normal for everyone

• Show them informative videos on pubertal changes

• Openly discuss pubertal changes with your child

• Be patient with your kid

• Answer his/her questions sensitively and with the right information

• Allow your child to freely discuss his/her issues

• Do not compare with his/her peers.

• Explain that the stages of male voice change are temporary

Voice change is a crucial part of growing up. While girls’ voices change during puberty, it is the voice change in boys that typically draws more attention. If you’ve ever wondered “what age does your voice deepen” or “when will my voice get deeper,” remember that everyone develops on their own timeline. Most importantly, emotional support and professional guidance can make this transition smoother for your child.

Adapting to Voice Changes

Puberty, with its voice changes and other symptoms, can be a stressful time for teenagers, but learning more about the process can help everyone cope.

If he is concerned about the sound of his voice, reassure him that the squeaks and changes are normal growing pains that will pass. The good news is that when his voice changes, he will experience the growth spurt he has been anticipating.

If your child is having difficulty with his or her voice, contact a Voice Therapist/Speech Therapist. We offer the best online speech therapy in India at 1SpecialPlace. Speech and language disorders are among the most common health problems among children and adults in India, where speech impairment is the fifth most common handicap, accounting for 7% of the population. A speech disorder is said to affect one out of every ten schoolchildren. Furthermore, 90% of children with speech and language disorders may face long-term difficulties.

Get in touch with our team of Speech Therapists if your child faces difficulty with his/her voice.

Here is one case study on Multiple Intubations on Voice Change