Your Child's Changing Voice
Understanding voice changes during puberty
Understanding Voice Changes
Along with obvious changes in physical appearance that come with puberty, your child's voice will start sounding a whole lot different too. As the body goes through puberty, the larynx (or voice box) grows larger and thicker.
It happens in both boys and girls, but the change is more obvious in boys. Girls' voices only deepen by a couple of tones and the change is barely noticeable. Boys' voices, however, start to get much deeper.
The Changing Larynx
It's the larynx (or voice box) that's causing all that noise. The larynx, which is located in the throat, plays the major role in creating the sound of the voice.
👦 In Boys
- • Voice typically begins to change between ages 11 and 14½
- • Usually occurs just after the major growth spurt
- • Larynx grows significantly larger
- • Vocal cords become longer and thicker
- • Adam's apple becomes visible
- • Voice drops about an octave
- • Voice "cracking" or "breaking" is normal
- • May change gradually or quickly
👧 In Girls
- • Larynx also grows but not as much
- • Voice deepens only by a couple of tones
- • Change is barely noticeable
- • Voice may become richer in tone
- • Usually occurs between ages 10-14
- • Less dramatic than boys
- • No prominent Adam's apple develops
Timing Varies
Everyone's timing is different, so some boys' voices might start to change earlier and some might start a little later. Some boys' voices might change gradually, whereas others' might change quickly.
The Science Behind the Squeaking
🎵 How the Voice Works
Two muscles, or vocal cords, stretch across the larynx, kind of like rubber bands. When a person speaks, air rushes from the lungs and makes the vocal cords vibrate, which in turn produces the sound of the voice.
The pitch of the sound produced is controlled by how tightly the vocal cord muscles contract as the air from the lungs hits them.
The Rubber Band Analogy
If you've ever plucked a small, thin rubber band, you've heard the high-pitched twang it makes when it's stretched. A thicker rubber band makes a deeper, lower-pitched twang. It's the same process with vocal cords.
- • Before puberty: Small larynx + thin vocal cords = higher voice
- • During puberty: Growing larynx + thickening cords = cracking voice
- • After puberty: Larger larynx + thicker cords = deeper voice
🏗️ Additional Changes
Before a boy reaches puberty, his larynx is pretty small and his vocal cords are kind of small and thin. That's why his voice is higher than an adult's. But as he goes through puberty:
- • The larynx gets bigger
- • The vocal cords grow longer and become thicker
- • Facial bones begin to grow
- • Cavities in the sinuses, nose, and back of the throat grow bigger
- • This creates more space in the face — giving the voice more room to resonate
Why Does the Voice "Crack"?
Adjustment Period
As a boy's body adjusts to this changing equipment, his voice may "crack" or "break." This is a completely normal part of the process.
Good news: This process lasts only a few months!
✅ What Happens
- • Voice makes unpredictable squeaks
- • Cracking sounds occur randomly
- • Pitch may jump unexpectedly
- • Body is adjusting to new equipment
- • Muscles learning to control bigger larynx
🎯 Resolution
- • Lasts only a few months
- • Body adjusts to new larynx size
- • Croaks and squeaks taper off
- • New, deeper voice becomes stable
- • Voice becomes easier to control
What Is the Adam's Apple?
When the larynx grows bigger, it tilts to a different angle inside the neck and part of it sticks out at the front of the throat. This is the "Adam's apple."
👦 In Boys
The larynx grows much bigger, creating a prominent Adam's apple that's visible at the front of the throat.
👧 In Girls
The larynx also grows bigger but not as much as a boy's does, which is why girls don't have prominent Adam's apples.
A Normal Stage of Growth
Those croaks and squeaks in a boy's voice are just a part of this normal and natural stage of growth.
As puberty continues, his body adjusts to the new size of the larynx, and the croaks and squeaks begin to taper off. After that, the new, deeper voice becomes much more stable and easier to control.
💚 Reassuring Your Child
If your son is concerned, stressed, or embarrassed about the sound of his voice, let him know:
- ✓It's only temporary — Voice cracking typically lasts just a few months
- ✓Everyone goes through it — All boys experience voice changes to some extent
- ✓It's completely normal — Voice changes are a natural part of growing up
- ✓It will resolve — After a few months, he'll sound just like an adult!
- ✓The new voice is permanent — Once settled, the deeper voice is here to stay
📅 Typical Timeline
Remember: Everyone's timing is different. Some boys' voices change gradually, while others change more quickly. Both patterns are completely normal!