It’s common for a girl’s voice to deepen during puberty. As girls go through puberty, their bodies begin producing more of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones cause many changes in the body, including changes to the voice. Let’s explore why a girl’s voice deepens and what’s happening physically to cause this change.
What Causes the Voice to Deepen During Puberty?
During puberty, a girl’s larynx (voice box) grows bigger. The vocal cords also become longer and thicker. This growth is caused by increased production of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
As the larynx enlarges, it pushes out to create what’s known as an “Adam’s apple.” Boys experience more prominent Adam’s apples, but many girls also develop a slight Adam’s apple bump during puberty.
The bigger larynx and longer, thicker vocal cords change the quality of the voice, making it lower-pitched and deeper.
Changes in Vocal Cord Length and Thickness
Let’s take a closer look at how the vocal cords change:
- Before puberty, boys and girls have vocal cords about the same length, around 8-10 mm.
- During puberty, a boy’s vocal cords can grow to around 17-25 mm long.
- For girls, the vocal cords grow to around 12-17 mm long.
Not only do the vocal cords increase in length, but they also thicken. Thicker, longer vocal cords vibrate at a lower frequency, producing a deeper voice.
Larynx Growth
In addition to vocal cord changes, growth of the larynx contributes to the lower voice pitch.
- Before puberty, the larynx is small and sits higher up in the throat.
- During puberty, the larynx grows larger and protrudes outward to form the Adam’s apple.
- In girls, the amount of larynx growth is much smaller than in boys. But there is still a noticeable change.
This larger, lower-sitting larynx boosts the resonance of the voice, amplifying its newly deeper tone.
When Does the Voice Begin to Deepen?
The timing of voice deepening corresponds with the beginning of puberty, which differs from girl to girl. Puberty generally begins between the ages of 8 and 14.
Changes often start with breast development and pubic hair growth. Then, within a year or two, hormonal shifts trigger voice changes.
Here’s a general timeline for voice deepening:
- Age 8-10: First signs of puberty begin
- Age 10-12: Voice box starts to grow; vocal cords lengthen
- Age 12-15: Voice pitch drops significantly
- Age 13-16: Adult pitch established
However, the exact age when a girl’s voice begins to deepen can vary quite a bit. If puberty starts on the early side, voice changes may begin as young as age 9 or 10. For late bloomers, the voice may not start to mature until the mid-teen years.
How Much Does a Girl’s Voice Deepen?
During puberty, a girl’s voice will deepen by about one octave. This means it will become about two times lower in pitch.
However, the amount of deepening is much less dramatic compared to boys. On average:
- A boy’s voice deepens by seven semitones.
- A girl’s voice deepens by three semitones.
For example, if a girl’s prepubescent voice range was A3 to D5 (220 to 587 Hz), it may deepen to G3 to C5 (196 to 523 Hz).
While not as drastic as boys, this one octave drop still produces a noticeably more mature-sounding voice.
Pitch Changes in Detail
Here’s a more detailed look at how pitch changes during voice maturation:
| Age Range | Girls’ Pitch Range |
|---|---|
| 6-8 years | A3 to D5 (220 to 587 Hz) |
| 8-10 years | A3 to C5 (220 to 523 Hz) |
| 10-12 years | B3 to B4 (247 to 494 Hz) |
| 12-15 years | C4 to A4 (262 to 440 Hz) |
| Adult | G3 to C5 (196 to 523 Hz) |
As you can see, the voice gradually drops in pitch as puberty progresses. Adult pitch is established by age 13-16.
Other Vocal Changes Besides Pitch
In addition to a lower voice pitch, other qualities of the voice mature during puberty:
Vocal Power
As the larynx grows, it allows greater airflow and vocal power. The voice loses its “breathy” childhood quality and gains more resonance and projection.
Vocal Control
It takes time to adjust to the changing voice and exercise proper control. At first, the voice may crack frequently or move unpredictably between high and low pitches. With practice, adolescent girls gain better coordination and stability.
Tone Quality
The tone appears lighter or softer before puberty. As the vocal cords thicken, the tone takes on a richer, more complex quality.
Vocal Range
The usable vocal range shrinks temporarily during puberty as girls adapt to their changing voices. With maturation, the range expands again but centers on the new, lower pitch.
Speaking Pitch
When not singing, the average speaking pitch drops from about 190 Hz prepuberty to 170 Hz for adult females. Slight pronunciation changes may also occur.
Is My Daughter’s Voice Changing Normal?
It’s common for parents to worry that something might be wrong if their daughter’s voice begins to deepen and take on new qualities during puberty.
Rest assured, vocal changes are a normal part of female adolescence. They indicate your daughter is developing into adulthood.
Here are signs the voice change is normal:
- Corresponds with other puberty changes
- Voice pitch drops no more than one octave
- No pain, raspy quality, or loss of voice
- Gradual deepening over one to three years
- Voice quality stabilizes by late teens
If the voice deepens more than an octave, lasts for more than three years, or involves pain, see an ear, nose and throat specialist to rule out problems.
Will My Daughter Sound Like an Adult Woman?
By the late teens, your daughter’s voice will sound like an adult woman’s voice. However, there are some differences between adolescent and more mature female voices:
Adolescent Voices
- Still settling into mature pitch
- Developing vocal control
- Mid-range tones sound stronger
- Higher pitches may sound weaker or “breathy”
- Lower pitches may be difficult to produce
Mature Adult Voices
- Stable, consistent pitch and tone
- Excellent vocal control and coordination
- Even sound through all vocal ranges
- Rich, complex, resonant quality
- Mature pronunciation and speech patterns
With time and practice, an adolescent female voice will gain the smooth control and variety of a grown woman’s voice. But the process takes several years past puberty.
Coping With Voice Changes
It’s common for girls to feel self-conscious as their voice matures. Here are some tips to help your daughter cope with voice changes:
- Reassure her it’s normal and temporary
- Encourage her to talk or sing often to exercise the new voice
- Suggest throat lozenges if the voice is raspy
- Avoid cough and throat-clearing drops that numb the throat
- Visit an ENT if voice pain persists
- Consider voice therapy to help gain control
With your support, she will gain confidence and adapt to her deepening voice.
Does Hormonal Birth Control Affect the Voice?
Because female hormones drive voice changes during puberty, some people wonder if hormonal contraceptives affect the voice.
Evidence shows that modern birth control pills have no impact on vocal pitch or quality. The doses of estrogen and progesterone are low enough that they don’t alter female physical maturation.
For the same reason, going on birth control too early doesn’t affect the normal timing or progression of voice changes during puberty.
When Will the Voice Stop Changing?
Female voices reach adult pitch around age 13-16 years, or about 3-4 years after the first signs of puberty.
However, the voice may continue maturing and gaining nuance through the late teens and early 20s. Professional vocal coaches say the voice doesn’t reach its richest, most expressive potential until the mid-20s or later.
So while pitch stabilizes in the mid-teen years, slight changes in tone, control, and vocal range can continue through young adulthood.
Takeaways
It’s normal for a girl’s voice to deepen during puberty as the larynx grows and vocal cords lengthen and thicken under the influence of female sex hormones. On average, pitch drops by one octave. Along with lower pitch, the voice gains resonance and nuance.
While it takes some adjustment, voice changes are a healthy part of maturation into womanhood. With patience and support, girls adapt well to their new voice. Within a few years, they possess a beautiful, mature-sounding voice.
Conclusion
Going through puberty can be challenging for girls, especially as their voices start to deepen. But understanding the physical changes behind voice maturation can ease worries.
The good news is vocal changes signify healthy development. With time and practice, girls gain control of their new voice. Soon, they possess a lovely, womanly voice that reflects their maturing personality and identity.