What? The voice also ages?

We always pay attention

Appearance changes with age

But you know, guys?

Your voice changes as you age.

In life, our voices are also different. There are even special categories for voice performances, such as "girl voice", "queen voice", "young man voice", "boss voice"...

So how do these different voices come about, and what changes do they go through throughout our lives?

Today we will study:

How does the voice come out?

Why do different ages sound different?

How to protect our throat?

Voice

Voice is a person’s “voice business card” and one of the main ways for humans to communicate and transfer information .

When you say "Everyone has their own unique voice", a process that involves five parts of tissues and organs occurs in your body, and it is not a simple process at all.

The voice can convey the meaning of speech because the power organs, vibration organs, resonance and articulation organs work together in the nervous system . The brain coordinates brainstem reflexes, lung function, chest wall compliance, movement of the laryngeal muscles, and regulation of the pharynx, nose, and mouth .

Under the control of the higher centers , each organ performs its own functions and cooperates with each other. The power organ is achieved through the cooperation of the respiratory system (lungs, trachea, respiratory muscles, thorax, etc.). The airflow we exhale will form subglottal pressure and promote the vibration of the vocal cords.

As we all know, voice is produced by the vibration of vocal cords , and the participation of the vibrating organs is indispensable. The vocal cords are a tissue with a complex and delicate layered structure, and related diseases can cause hoarseness or even loss of voice.

Diagram of the organs of pronunciation Source: Digital Beijing Science Center

The addition of resonance organs makes the voice of every person in the world different. The sound from the throat causes the air in the resonance cavity (chest cavity, pharynx cavity, mouth, nasal cavity and sinuses) to vibrate.

What is even more amazing is that by adjusting the length, shape and tension of the resonance chamber, the sound will produce different effects to meet people's needs for expression. A series of overtones and polyphonic tones are formed, producing pitch, intensity and timbre .

It can be said that the factors that cause your unique voice are three major differences: the different natural structures of the vocal cords and resonance systems; different muscle regulation abilities ; and different techniques for using the resonance system.

Language is a weapon of thought and a tool for people to communicate . However, before the popularization of Mandarin, "different accents every ten miles" was an extremely common phenomenon. Such differences were caused by the articulation organs.

Articulators include lips, tongue, teeth, palate and mandible , etc. Different voice interpretations can be achieved by adjusting the relative positions of articulators, such as changing the shape and size of the oral cavity , affecting the airflow of the vocal tract, and producing different phonemes such as vowels and consonants. We can experience such differences carefully when pronouncing, for example, the position of the tongue changes very obviously when pronouncing flat and retroflex consonants.

Do different ages have different voices?

As we age, our voices change. The fetus has completed most of the anatomical growth of the larynx at 3 months old , and the development of the larynx is more significant in the first 3 years after birth, and there are fewer changes after 6 years old.

This stage, which we call the "childhood stage", is characterized by a brighter timbre and a higher pitch than that of adults, but a lower range and richer timbre. At this time, the human vocal cords and the entire vocal system are not fully developed.

During childhood, male and female voices sound similar because the development of the larynx and the length (about 6 to 8 mm) and thickness of the vocal cords are similar .

With the arrival of puberty, the voice change period from childhood voice to adult voice begins. During this stage, the vocal system and all systems of the body develop rapidly. The voice changes greatly during adolescence and gender differences gradually appear. Boys' voices gradually become deeper, while girls' voices become higher and thinner.

Specifically, during this stage, the girl's larynx becomes narrow, the vocal cords become short and thin, with a length of 15 to 20 mm , and a high vibration frequency; the boy's laryngeal cavity becomes larger, the vocal cords become wide and thick, with a length of 20 to 25 mm .

Generally speaking, the age of voice change for girls is between 10 and 18 years old , but it can also start between 8 and 15 years old and end between 12 and 16.5 years old . The average age of voice change for boys is between 11 and 15 years old . After the voice change period, a person's voice will not be fixed and will age.

As people age, their voices become softer and hoarser because the soft tissue in the throat weakens , affecting the tone, loudness and quality of the voice.

The human voice starts to decline at the age of 65. At this time, women's voices become more hoarse and the sound quality becomes lower, while men's voices become weaker and the sound quality becomes higher.

Tips for protecting your throat

Friends, if you want to protect your throat, we recommend doing the following:

1. Warm up your throat

Before attending classes, singing, or other work, do some shoulder and neck stretching exercises; make different vibratos, and move your lips and tongue.

2. Smoking cessation is recommended

The tar in tobacco and the harmful gases produced during combustion are both highly irritating to the throat.

3. Control the volume

Don't shout all the time, cheer and scream sparingly.

4. Drink more warm water

When your throat is uncomfortable, drink more warm water to keep your throat moist.

5. Beware of acid reflux

It is harmful to the throat. If you experience frequent heartburn, bad breath in the morning, frequent hiccups, a constant feeling of something in your throat, or recurring hoarseness , you should seek medical attention immediately.

6. Pay attention to oral hygiene

Brush your teeth every morning, evening and after meals to correct the habit of mouth breathing. Wear a mask when going out in cold or windy weather.