Why might women’s voices change with age?
Ask the doctor
Q. I’m a woman in my late 50s. I’ve noticed that in the past few years, my voice has gotten slightly lower and a bit gravelly. Why is this happening?
A. This phenomenon is relatively common in both sexes, since vocal cords tend to shrink as we get older, making people’s voices sound thin, reedy, or raspy. But women’s voices can also get deeper due to a combination of hormonal shifts and changes not just in the vocal cords, but in the respiratory system as a whole.
The decline in estrogen after menopause can slow the frequency of vibrations in vocal cords by thinning and drying tissues, resulting in a lower-pitched voice. Muscles in the larynx, or voice box, can also diminish with age, affecting the voice’s ability to sustain sounds. And muscles in the lungs may add to the effect by weakening over time, reducing the amount of air that’s available to push past the vocal cords. This can dampen the “power” of our voice — the ability to speak loudly or project.
To a certain extent, we can’t prevent these age-related voice changes. But a few tactics can help you protect your voice, including avoiding overuse, spicy foods, and irritants such as smoke or chemicals.
Image: © Sean Anthony Eddy/Getty Images
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