The Importance of Vocal Health During the Voice Change Period: World Voice Day

Every year on April 16, ‘World Voice Day’ is a day established to inform the world of the importance of a healthy voice. Although voice is an important means of expressing oneself to others, awareness of its importance is lacking. In particular, the voice change period, when the structure of the vocal folds changes as the vocal cords grow, is the time when the voice that will last a lifetime is completed depending on how you spend it. That’s why it’s an important time to manage your voice well.

When voice change occurs, it is preferable to vocalize using abdominal breathing rather than shouting or squeezing your throat｜Source: Getty Image Bank

only for men? No! Even women go through puberty
When you grow up, not only your body grows, but your vocal cords also grow. The voice change period refers to the period when the voice changes according to the rapid growth of the pharynx due to secondary sexual characteristics. Testosterone, one of the male hormones, stimulates the vocal cords, making them thick and long, resulting in a change in voice. At this time, the vocal cord pattern controlled by the brain changes, resulting in a hoarse voice or unstable pitch.

It is generally thought that puberty is only experienced by men and does not come to women. However, this is far from the truth. Women definitely have their puberty. I just think so because there is no noticeable change in voice like men. The puberty usually begins around the age of 13 for males and around the age of 12 for females. Depending on the individual, it can be as short as 3 months or as long as 1 year. After this period, the tone of voice is lowered by 1 octave for males and 3 octaves for females, giving them the voices of adults.

Unnoticeable female genitalia, how to check?
In men, the length of the vocal cords changes after puberty. What was about 10mm before the transformation period grows up to twice as much through the transformation period. After this period, the vocal cords of adults reach about 13 to 24 mm in length, which is why men produce thicker and lower voices than women.

Women’s vocal cords grow in length just like men’s. However, less testosterone is secreted than men, and the length of the vocal cords is also 15 mm, so they have a calmer voice than a thick and low voice. The change in female voice is less than that of male voice, and the vocal cords grow in a certain direction, so it feels like there is not much change in voice. However, women go through puberty without being aware of it.

In the case of women, it can be confirmed that the puberty period has come when the following symptoms are present.
1. If your voice is low
The voice change did not begin when the voice became lower. After several months of initiation, the pitch becomes lower. Therefore, if you think that your voice has lowered, the voice changer has already started.

2. If it is difficult to control the pitch when singing
It is the period when the cracking sound is the most heard. If something doesn’t work as naturally as before, cracks, vocalization feels difficult, and your throat gets tired quickly, it could be a change in voice.

3. If your voice becomes more and more husky
Although each person is different, if your voice is more husky than usual, it could be a symptom of a voice change. Some people’s voices change to a lower pitch, while others become husky.

Be careful of voice and vocal diseases during the change of voice… Vocal cord care is important
The voice change period is a period of refining the voice that will be used for the rest of one’s life. However, due to the coincidence of puberty and puberty, emotional changes are large and energy is overflowing, so it is often loud. If you overuse your vocal cords in this way, your vocal cords can be easily damaged and you may have to spend your whole life with a husky voice. In addition, if you are not used to the voice that changes to a low and thick voice, and if you forcefully vocalize to make the same sound as before, voice disorders such as dysphonia or dysphonia may occur. If the vocal cords are overused, diseases such as vocal cord dystrophy and vocal cord adhesions, which cause hoarseness throughout life, may appear.

Haidak Otorhinolaryngology Counseling Doctor Jeon Seong-ho (Chamgilbi Throat Clinic) said, “Women can have a voice change, but they don’t show as big a change as men.” , adhesive vocal cords, vocal cord cysts, and other diseases, and if these diseases last a lifetime, the voice gradually changes and can make speaking itself scary.” In addition, “It is good to speak quietly so as not to strain the throat, and avoid irritating foods as they affect not only the management of the throat but also the overall health condition. It is helpful to drink about 1.5L and do abdominal breathing for about 30 minutes.”

Help = Haidaq Counseling Doctor Jeon Seong-ho (Otorhinolaryngology Specialist at Cham Gil Hospital)

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