Why Your Voice Changes as You Get Older

triloks/E+ via Getty Images

As you get older, your body starts to change. You might be familiar with some common changes, including gray hair, trouble seeing up close, and skin changes, like wrinkles. But many people are surprised to find that their voice changes as they get older, too.

For many people, these voice changes aren't a problem. But age-related voice changes can affect your ability to communicate at work and with friends and family. Here's what you can expect as your voice ages.

Why does your voice change as you get older?

Presbyphonia is the medical term for age-related voice changes. Presbyphonia is the result of several changes that happen as you get older.

Changes in your voice box

Your voice box (larynx) is a structure in your throat that contains your vocal cords. Your vocal cords vibrate as air passes across them. This produces the sounds that you use to speak, sing, and laugh.

As you get older, the structures in and around your voice box change. The muscles around your voice box get weaker. Collagen that holds structures together around your voice box also starts to break down. These muscle and collagen changes happen throughout your body. And, when these changes happen in the voice box, you'll notice a change in the pitch and tone of your voice.

Hormone changes, especially from menopause, can change the size and shape of your vocal cords. This can also change your voice.

Changes in the shape of your ribcage

To speak, air needs to pass through your lungs, over your voice cords, and out of your mouth. The muscles in your diaphragm, neck, and chest help draw air in and out of your lungs. These muscles start to lose mass and get weaker as you get older. This affects how much air you take in with each breath, which, in turn, can affect the loudness and quality of your voice.

Loss of muscle mass can change the shape of your rib cage and your posture. Some medical conditions, like spinal degeneration, can also affect these things. Changes to your posture and rib cage shape can make it harder to take a full breath, tool.

Changes in your face shape

Your face changes as you get older. Some of those changes might be more obvious, like wrinkles. But other, more subtle changes can affect your voice. These changes affect how air flows out of your mouth and nose, which can change the tenor and quality of your voice.

Some of these changes include:

• Changes in the shape of your nose: Your nose, especially the tip, gets longer as you get older.

• Dental changes or loss: Many people lose teeth as they get older. Loose or absent teeth affect the movement of air through the mouth.

• Weight changes: People may gain weight as they get older. Changes in the size of fat pads in the cheeks, neck, and chin can affect how air passes through the nose and mouth.

• Salivary gland shrinkage: The salivary glands get smaller and stop working as you get older. This leads to the drying out of the tissue lining the larynx. And this can impact voice quality.

What are the symptoms of an aging voice?

The severity of voice changes from presbyphonia vary from person to person. Some people have more noticeable changes in their voice as they get older.

But the way the voice changes tends to be consistent from person to person, including a lower volume, higher pitch, tougher tone, and less stability.

Lower volume

The voice tends to get quieter as people get older. Some people may notice they have a hard time projecting their voice, too. This can make it difficult to be heard in loud environments.

Higher pitch

People may notice that their voice seems more high pitched. This can be more obvious in males because androgen levels ("male hormones") tend to decrease with age. This leads to a relative increase in estrogen levels, which can cause the voice to take on a higher pitch.

Rougher tone

People often notice that their voice seems more hoarse, breathy, or raspy as they get older. This can be more obvious in people who have gone through menopause because lower estrogen levels can cause vocal cord swelling.

Less stability

Many people notice that their voice seems to shake as they get older. Changes in voice stability are common. These changes can also be called "voice jitters" or "voice shimmers."

How can you keep your voice healthy as you age?

You can't prevent presbyphonia completely. Voice changes are natural. But there are things you can do to keep your voice healthy as you get older.

Stop smoking

Studies show that smoking leads to vocal cord dryness and irritation. This will impact the quality of your voice. Smoking cessation can protect your voice and improve your health. It's never too late to stop smoking.

Avoid voice strain

Lowering stress on your vocal cords can protect your voice. Avoid voice strain by taking breaks from speaking and not trying to talk when you have laryngitis. Staying hydrated can help you avoid voice strain. Running a humidifier in your home can also help keep your vocal cords moist.

Follow up with a healthcare professional

Some medical conditions can irritate your vocal cords and lead to chronic laryngitis. This can damage your voice over time. Follow up with your healthcare team if you have GERD or another condition that affects your throat or airways and lungs. Getting the right treatment can help protect your voice.

Are there any ways to treat age-related voice changes?

Yes, there are treatments for age-related voice changes. Treatments, like the following, can help if your voice changes are affecting your ability to do your job or impacting your relationships.

Voice therapy

Voice therapy helps you improve your breathing techniques to maximize air flow across your vocal cords while avoiding voice strain and voice box tension. Examples of these therapies include phonation resistance training exercise (PhoRTE) and vocal function exercise (VFE). Voice therapy can help increase your volume and make it easier to speak. Your primary care provider can provide a referral to a speech-language pathologist for voice therapy.

Injection laryngoplasty

Injection laryngoplasty is a medical procedure where an otolaryngologist (ENT) specialist injects a filler into the space next to your vocal cords. The filler pushes the vocal cords back into a more natural position. This can improve the pitch and tone of your voice.

Injection laryngoplasty is done in an office with local anesthesia. People usually see effects within a few days. The results are temporary and fade as the filler naturally breaks down. But you can get repeated injections, as needed.

Hormone replacement therapy

Hormone replacement therapy can improve voice tone if your voice changes are a side effect of menopause. Not everyone can safely take hormone replacement therapy. Talk with your primary care provider or gynecologist about the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy to find out if it's right for you.

Frequently asked questions

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.