The short answer is yes, puberty causes significant changes to the voice, particularly in boys. During puberty, rising levels of testosterone cause the larynx (voice box) to grow bigger and the vocal cords to become longer and thicker. This leads to the voice ‘breaking’ and becoming deeper.
When does the voice change during puberty?
The voice change typically occurs between the ages of 12-15 years in boys as they go through puberty. Girls also experience slight changes in their voice, but the effect is much less dramatic compared to boys.
In boys, the first sign of voice change is often voice cracking or breaking. As testosterone levels increase, the cartilage of the larynx enlarges and the vocal cords get longer and thicker. This causes the voice to shift from high-pitched to lower-pitched.
At first, the voice ‘breaks’ unpredictably as it alternates between high and low pitches. Voice cracking is normal and signals the start of the change process. After a period of cracking, the voice will settle at a permanently lower pitch.
Here is a typical timeline for the male voice change during puberty:
- Age 12-13: First sign of voice breaking/cracking as pitch starts to lower
- Age 13-14: Voice steadily drops in pitch, unpredictably cracking and breaking
- Age 15: Voice settles into new lower pitch range
The whole process usually lasts around 1-2 years. But each adolescent goes through the voice change at their own pace based on when they enter puberty. Early maturing boys tend to experience voice change earlier.
What causes the voice to change during puberty?
The voice change during adolescence is triggered by the production of testosterone in boys at puberty. Here are the key effects of testosterone:
- Causes growth of the larynx (voice box): The larynx grows longer and wider. The front part of the larynx called the thyroid cartilage becomes thicker and protrudes outward to form the Adam’s apple.
- Lengthens and thickens the vocal cords: The vocal cords grow longer and thicker, leading to a lower-pitched voice.
- Changes muscle and tissue: New muscle tissue develops around the vocal cords. The mucous membranes thicken.
Together, these changes allow the vocal cords to vibrate at a lower frequency, producing a deeper voice. The larynx also takes on a more prominent shape in males sticking out from the throat, known as the ‘Adam’s apple’.
Key changes in male voices during puberty
Here are the key changes that occur in boys’ voices as they undergo puberty:
- Pitch lowers – The most noticeable change is pitch lowering as the lengthened vocal cords vibrate more slowly. The pitch drops by about one octave, settling around 120 Hz compared to the high pre-pubertal pitch of 270 Hz.
- Timbre matures – The tone quality or timbre becomes more rich and complex. The ‘thin’ pre-pubertal voice takes on a more resonant, masculine quality.
- Volume increases – The larger larynx and vocal cords allow males to produce a louder voice and range in volume/projection.
- Less breathy – With thicker vocal cord tissue, the voice tends to become less breathy and takes on a more smooth, flowing quality.
- Wider range – The voice can produce a wider range of notes spanning low to high pitches. But the comfortable speaking range settles at a lower pitch.
In addition to changes in the voice itself, the development of louder, lower pitched voices in boys tends to be associated with masculine traits of authority, confidence and assertiveness.
Changes in female voices during puberty
Girls also experience voice changes during adolescence but to a much lesser degree than boys:
- Pitch decreases slightly, by about half an octave
- Timbre matures from ‘girlish’ to more womanly resonance
- Volume increases slightly
- Greater stability in pitch and smoothness
These changes result from estrogens acting on the larynx and vocal cords. But the female larynx remains much smaller compared to males and the voice box does not protrude to form an Adam’s apple.
Voice problems during puberty
Voice cracking and instability are normal during puberty. But some teenagers may experience voice problems including:
- Prolonged hoarseness
- Loss of voice
- Painful speaking/singing
- No voice improvement after 1-2 years
This can be caused by growths like vocal cord nodules or straining the voice. Seeking medical advice is recommended for any ongoing voice issues.
Voice care tips for puberty
Here are some tips for taking care of the changing adolescent voice:
- Avoid voice overuse and screaming/yelling
- Stay hydrated by drinking water
- Avoid throat clearing and coughing
- Don’t smoke/vape as it dries out vocal cords
- Speak at a reasonable volume to avoid straining
- See a doctor if you have persistent hoarseness
Developing a healthy voice
With the voice stabilised post-puberty, young men can take steps to develop strength and confidence in their new voice such as:
- Practice proper breathing techniques for speaking
- Work on vocal projection without straining
- Record your voice to get used to the sound
- Take public speaking/voice lessons if needed
- Be patient – it takes time to get full control over your mature voice
Voice differences across genders
The effect of puberty is a marked difference in the male vs female voice from adolescence onwards. Some key contrasts:
| Male voice | Female voice |
|---|---|
| Pitch drops to ~120 Hz | Pitch lowers slightly to ~210 Hz |
| Loudness increases | Minimal increase in loudness |
| Resonant, ‘booming’ timbre | Soft, ‘breathy’ timbre |
| Appearance of Adam’s apple | No Adam’s apple |
These differences arise from the much greater effect of testosterone in male puberty compared to the relatively minor impact estrogens have on the female voice.
Reasons for gender differences in voices
Some of the reasons for the male vs female differences in voice after puberty include:
- Much greater growth of the male larynx and vocal cords
- Longer, thicker vocal cords in males vibrate at lower frequencies
- Testosterone causes thickening of vocal tissues
- Estrogen does not stimulate female larynx growth to the same extent
- Social factors reinforce gender norms including ‘masculine’ vs ‘feminine’ voice qualities
Together, these biological and social factors result in the typical male voice being around 1 octave lower in pitch compared to the female voice by adulthood.
Voice and gender identity
For transgender individuals undergoing gender affirming treatment, the voice can play an important role in gender expression.
Transgender male voice
Testosterone therapy leads to vocal changes in transgender males similar to male puberty:
- Pitch drops by up to one octave into the male range
- Increase in vocal volume and projection
- Development of chest resonance for lower pitched voice
- Changes continue over 1-2 years of testosterone treatment
Transgender female voice
For transgender women, voice feminization therapy may be used to adjust pitch, intonation and resonance patterns to better align with female speech:
- Increasing pitch to ~200 Hz range
- Adjusting resonance to sound less chesty
- Speaking with female speech patterns
- May take several months of training
Along with medical treatments, speech therapy helps transgender individuals find an authentic voice that affirms their gender identity.
Conclusion
In summary, puberty causes significant changes in the male voice due to the effects of rising testosterone levels. The larynx grows, vocal cords lengthen and thicken, and the voice transitions from high-pitched to deeper and more resonant at a pitch around 120 Hz.
Girls experience minor voice changes during puberty but much less dramatic compared to boys. This results in typical gender differences in voice pitch, tone, volume and resonance. However, the transgender experience illustrates that biological factors alone do not determine voice gender – social and medical transition also play a role.
With the right care, adolescents can transition smoothly through the voice changes of puberty to develop strong, healthy voices as men and women.