Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Voice Changes. The voice depends mostly on the tautness and length of the vocal cords And how tightly they contract as the air from the lungs hits them. The voice of a child is high because the larynx is small, The vocal cords being short, thin, and tight. At birth the vocal cords (or folds) of both boys and girls measure about 2 millimeters long. Those of girls grow 0.4 mm per year, while those of boys grow 0.7 mm. Finally, girls' vocal folds reach 10 mm, while boys' are 16 mm, Producing the lower or deeper voice of males. With puberty, the larynx grows, the vocal cords lengthen and thicken, Thus causing the voice of both males and females to deepen. The further 'culprit' in boys is the additional flush of testosterone. The female voice remains relatively higher, as explained, because of shorter cords. As adults age, vocal cords become thinner, The cartilage of the larynx becomes harder and less flexible, Causing the alteration of the voice. Thus the pitch of the voice changes with age : Often rendering it to be higher in older men and lower in older women. Additionally, the musculature of an elder's larynx May weaken or cause a quavering quality called vocal tremors. The voice may be further changed with a stooped posture Or the lessening of lung capacity, Thus reducing the air flow through the larynx, furthering voice alteration. This is why older men with a remaining rich, robust voice, Often cause remarks from others as to how young they sound ! Radio material. Frank Maurer 29 July 2023 1100 Hours.