Signs & Symptoms of Voice Changing

Voice-changing is a normal part of puberty in both boys and girls, although it is usually most noticeable in boys. This change can happen anytime between the ages of 10 and 15, but most typically occurs between 12 and 13 years of age. While an adolescent will not feel any differences as his or her voice changes, signs and symptoms do arise.

Signs and Symptoms

• As an adolescent's voice changes, he will often notice a deepening in the pitch of his voice. Boys may experience some cracking or breaking as their voices fluctuate from higher to lower pitches uncontrollably. Girls typically do not experience the same voice-changing symptoms that boys do; however, they may notice that their voices become breathy or weak as these changes occur.

Why Voices Change

• Adolescent voices change as estrogen in girls or testosterone in boys causes the larynx, also referred to as the voice box, and vocal cords to become longer and thicker. As a boy's larynx grows bigger, it tilts to a different angle, allowing it to be noticeable through the neck. This is referred to as an Adam's apple. The tilting of the larynx does not occur in girls.

Time Span

• It usually takes a few months for an adolescents' larynxes to finish growing, and for their voices to deepen and become less unpredictable. However, while the noticeable signs of voice-changing only lasts for a few months, the voice may continue deepening into a person's 20s.

How Deep

• Each person's voice deepens differently. How deep a voice will be is determined by an individual's genetics. The larger a person's larynx is, the deeper his voice will be. Certain vocal training exercises can be done to assist in deepening the voice.