When boys mature, their vocal cords thicken and their voices sound
lower in pitch. Is it that girl's vocal cords never thicken? When you
are on the phone, you can tell the difference between a 16-year old
and a 40-year old woman. It's either girlish or womanly.(When you hear
a 40-year old woman who sounds 16, it is obnoxious.)So, do women's
vocal cords eventually thicken at some point?
Also, when you're talking to an elderly person, they "sound" old. What
happens to people's vocal cords as they age?
Thanks,
Yesmam

Hello Yesmam!

I?m so excited that I get the chance to answer another Yesmam
question! I should have known it was one of your questions from the
?ALL-CAPS? clue, but mostly I can spot your questions (aside from the
obvious ?asked by Yesmam-ga?) by how interesting they are and how they
immediately make me say, ?Ooooh! I wonder about that, too!? Remember,
we?ve established that our minds are very alike.

Well, here goes . . . 

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Puberty and Vocal Changes

Basically, the difference between a woman?s voice and a man?s voice is
caused by testosterone. When a boy experiences puberty there is a
testosterone surge that is responsible for most of the changes noticed
during adolescence (e.g., physical growth, acne, facial hair, etc.).
The cartilaginous larynx, or ?voice box,? is very dependent upon
testosterone for growth, so it?s no wonder that it grows much more in
boys than in girls. In fact, according to The Columbia Encyclopedia
the larynx may actually double in size in adolescent boys. This rapid
change is what is responsible for the distinct, and often
embarrassing, ?cracking? and ?squeaking? that so unfortunately
accompanies pubescent male speech. This significant growth is also
what causes the larynx to become so prominent in men, giving them an
?Adam?s Apple.?

In general, women have shorter, tighter, and thinner vocal cords than
men. The thicker, longer, more lax vocal cords in men vibrate less
rapidly, and this causes their voices to be lower in pitch.

Indiana University School of Medicine
http://www.soundmedicine.iu.edu/archive/2003/quiz/voicePitch.html

The Columbia Encyclopedia
http://www.bartleby.com/65/la/larynx.html

BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/articles/lifecycle/teenagers/voice.shtml

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Vocal Changes in Women

Dr. Norman J. Harris, an Otorhinolaryngologist (ENT physician) in
Orange County, CA explains why women sometimes experience a deepening
of the voice as they approach and experience menopause. There is an
imbalance that can occur between female and male sex hormones
(estrogen and testosterone, respectively). The increased testosterone
influence can cause changes in women?s voices similar to those
experienced by pubescent boys?a thickening of the vocal cords
resulting in a deeper voice. This explains why when a girl answers the
phone you generally know when to ask, ?Is your mommy home??

Affiliate Ear, Nose, and Throat of Orange County
http://www.ocentdoc.com/Medical_Topics/Medical_Topics/Voice_Difficulties/voice_difficulties.html

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Vocal Changes as We Age

There are a few changes that most people can expect to experience as
they age. Some are gender-specific and some are not. First of all, the
larynx and its associated cartilages become less moist and resultantly
more rigid. The vocal cords can also undergo ?bowing? which prevents
the cords from closing completely. These two factors can lead to a
?breathy? quality present in many individuals. The vocal quality can
also be affected by ?insult? or ?injury? to the vocal cords (e.g.,
tumor) or by other disease processes (e.g., straining vocal cords to
compensate for diminished lung capacity). Decreased testosterone in
aging men leads to a thinning of the vocal cords, resulting in an
elevation in vocal pitch. Women as they approach menopause become more
sensitive to testosterone stimulation causing a thickening of the
vocal cords, resulting in a deeper voice.

The Mad Sci Network
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jun2001/992199828.Me.r.html

International Conference on Technology and Aging, 2001
http://www.icta.on.ca/English/Proceedings/proceedings%20full%20papers%20v9.pdf

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Well Yesmam, thank you again for yet another question that makes me
go, ?Hmmm, I wonder . . .? and giving me the opportunity to learn more
interesting bits of trivia, feeding not only your mind, but mine as
well. By the way, I hope you?re enjoying these warm fall/winter
temperatures! ;)

Sincerely,
Boquinha-ga

Google Search Terms:
Vocal cords women pitch
"vocal cords" men pitch
Testosterone estrogen vocal cords
Estrogen ?vocal cords?

I’m so excited that I get the chance to answer another Yesmam question! 

Uggghhh, thanks so much boquinha. I swear on my mama's overpriced
engagement ring that I have never had such a compliment. These sort of
questions are what fill my mind ALL the time. How can I break this to
you? At the age of 44 I was diagnosed with ADD and graduated in the
bottom tenth of my high school class. Up until tonight, I thought that
my questioning was the manifestation of something pathological. This
is one of the most stunning surprises to ever come into my life, and I
cannot express my joy at being complimented like this.
Take heart, that if the sun rises tomorrow, there will more questions;
I can't turn it off.
Once again, I think that you have done a super job at doing your
research. I hope that you enjoy your job just as much as I like asking
questions.
Thanks,
Yesmam

Hello Yesmam-ga!

Thank you so much for your very kind words and also for your generous
tip! It is very much appreciated.

As for the questions that fill your mind all the time, well, I love
them! They are among my favorite kind of questions to research and
answer. I'm glad that you enjoy the compliment--I assure you that it
is sincere. When I see a question that interests me and then notice
that it's all in CAPS and then notice that it's posted by Yesmam-ga, I
usually smile and think, "Yesmam!" and then lock it as quickly as I
can. It's a lot of fun to work with you! Rest assured that your racing
mind (I have one of those, too!) comes up with questions that enrich
the lives of others and helps others enjoy along with you! So, thank
you!

Sincerely,
Boquinha-ga