Why does the voice age?

Review expert: Yuan Xiandao Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University

Deputy Chief Physician of Otolaryngology Department

Voice is a way for people to understand the world. The high-brow music in the music hall and the folk songs in the countryside can all be sung differently by different people. And this difference is brought by the "voice". Just as your appearance can make you known, we can also distinguish and understand a person through his voice. The police can also judge the authenticity of the voice through criminal investigation methods.

Voice is a person's sonic calling card and one of the main ways for humans to communicate and transmit information. In life, people have different names for voices, such as girlish voice, mature sister voice, bossy voice... So how are these voices produced, and what changes will the voice go through during a person's life?

Source: pixabay

How does your voice sound?

When you say "Everyone has his or her own unique voice", a process that is not simple at all occurs in your body, involving five parts of tissues and organs. The reason why the voice can convey the meaning of speech is that the power organ, vibration organ, resonance and articulation organ work together in the coordination of the nervous system.

The brain coordinates brainstem reflexes, lung function, chest wall compliance, movement of laryngeal muscles, and regulation of the pharynx, nose, and oral cavity. Under the regulation 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 drive the vocal cords to vibrate.

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 vocal organs

Source: Sohu

The addition of resonance organs makes the voice of every person in the world different. The sound from the throat makes the air in the resonance cavity (chest cavity, pharynx cavity, oral cavity, nasal cavity and sinus) vibrate. What's more amazing is that after adjusting the length, shape and tension of the resonance cavity, the sound will produce different effects to meet people's expression needs. A series of overtones and polyphony are formed, and the pitch, sound intensity and timbre are produced. It can be said that the factors that cause your unique voice are three major differences: different natural structures of vocal cords and resonance systems; different muscle adjustment capabilities; and different techniques for using the resonance system.

Vocal cord diagram

Source: Baidu Encyclopedia

Language is a weapon of thought and a tool for people to communicate. However, before the popularization of Mandarin, it was very common to hear different pronunciations in different places. Such differences are caused by the articulatory organs. The articulatory organs include lips, tongue, teeth, palate and mandible. Different voice interpretations can be achieved by adjusting the relative positions of the articulatory organs, 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.

Source: News Photo

Why do voices differ at different ages?

As we age, our voices change. The fetus has basically completed most of the anatomical growth of the larynx at 3 months old. 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 the range and timbre are lower than those of adults. At this time, the human vocal cords and the entire vocal system are not fully mature.

Source: News Photo

In childhood, the voices of boys and girls are similar because of the similar development of the larynx and the length and thickness of the vocal cords (about 6 to 8 mm). With the arrival of puberty, the voice change period from child voice to adult voice begins. During this stage, the vocal system and all systems of the body develop rapidly. The voice changes greatly during puberty and gender differences gradually appear. Boys' voices gradually become thicker, while girls' voices become higher and thinner.

Specifically, during this stage, the larynx of girls becomes narrower, the vocal cords become shorter and thinner , with a length of 15 to 20 mm and a high vibration frequency; the laryngeal cavity of boys becomes larger, the vocal cords become wider and thicker , 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 the voice will also age.

As people age, their voices become softer and hoarser. This is because the soft tissue in the throat weakens, affecting the sound quality, loudness and quality of the voice. The voice starts to decline at age 65. At this time, women's voices become hoarser and the sound quality becomes lower, while men's voices become weaker and the sound quality becomes higher.

How to protect our throat?

The aging of the voice is an irreversible change , but in daily life, we should not ignore protecting our voice. Many people in the world suffer from voice disorders. In life, chronic laryngitis, vocal nodules, vocal polyps, etc. are relatively common voice diseases. Hoarseness, low and rough voices also often occur. Teachers, singers and other occupational groups that need to use their voices for a long time are the hardest hit by voice diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the voice.

If you want a good throat, physical and mental health is the foundation. A healthy and strong body and a positive mental state will naturally bring a good throat. Many people still have the habit of clearing their throats. In fact, this behavior not only damages the laryngeal mucosa, but also causes tension in the throat muscles. When your throat is uncomfortable, you can choose to drink warm water or relax. At the same time, you should pay attention to the scientific use of your throat. When breathing, inhale more through your nose instead of your mouth. People who breathe through their mouths for a long time will have sore and dry throats; keep appropriate and loose clothing to provide enough space for chest movement and breathing range.

In daily life, we can also refer to the voice care methods of singers. For example, the famous Peking Opera performer Mr. Mei Lanfang's method of protecting his voice is to eat a light diet and eat until 70% to 80% full at each meal. Spicy food and excessive eating without restraint will constantly irritate the throat mucosa, which is a relapse button for patients with chronic laryngitis.

Source: News Photo

The environment in which people live is also very important. A well-ventilated residence and clean air with appropriate temperature and humidity are beneficial to the health of the throat.

In addition, it is important not to smoke and stay away from secondhand smoke . Tobacco can be said to be a throat killer. The soot particles in tobacco smoke are 50,000 times more than those in ordinary air. Burning half a cigarette can make indoor PM2.5 reach extremely severe pollution levels. In such an environment, the throat will be damaged by harmful substances.

The large amount of ciliary toxins and mucus coagulating substances contained in tobacco can cause problems such as congestion, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the vocal cord mucosa, which in turn causes thrombosis of the vocal cord capillaries, tissue hypoxia, and decreased permeability. The vocal cords gradually take on the appearance of "smoked vocal cords", with a significant reduction in gloss and elasticity, and the edges are no longer sharp. What's even more frightening is that the thickened epithelium may undergo atypical changes, leading to laryngeal cancer. Therefore, smokers need to quit smoking, and non-smokers should also say no to secondhand smoke and stay away from smoky places.

Source: pixabay

Everyone's voice is unique. Protecting your voice is protecting this invisible "second face." Finally, I want to remind everyone that if you have sore throat, you must not "endure it". Please take the initiative to seek medical treatment.