A man's voice generally gets deeper during puberty, but in older age (middle age and beyond), it tends to get slightly higher in pitch due to vocal folds thinning and losing elasticity, although changes in muscle, cartilage, and breath support can also cause shakiness or breathiness, notes Britannica and UT Southwestern Medical Center. While presbyphonia causes pitch to rise, some voice changes in older men can lead to a rougher texture or volume loss, notes this YouTube video and WebMD.
When you go through puberty, your voice deepens. Men's voices often deepen up to an octave, while women's voices usually move about three tones lower. After puberty and well into older adulthood, some people's voices may change, but not everyone's. Men's voices tend to go up in pitch.
As people age, their vocal cords thicken and their larynx (voice box) grows larger, leading to a deeper voice. This is primarily due to hormonal changes, particularly increased testosterone levels in men.
Most of the voice change begins around puberty. Adult pitch is reached 2–3 years later, but the voice does not stabilize until the ages of 21–25. It usually happens months or years before the development of significant facial hair.
He has stated that he had a poor understanding of how to use his voice well while performing, possibly signing in the wrong register or range, over-use of grinding as an effect, not breathing well, or not employing resonance to his advantage. Any one of these could have led to a need for corrective surgery over time.
The countertenor is the rarest of all voice types. The countertenor was not originally an operatic voice type as historically it was the castrati who would sing the female operatic roles in an age when it was not proper for women to sing in the opera.
The six-time Grammy winner began having issues caused by an eye infection in 2024. Elton John, 78, is trying to stay optimistic despite experiencing vision loss due to an eye infection discovered while vacationing in France in 2024. “I've had the most incredible life, and there is hope,” the pop-rock icon told Variety.
Abstract. We measured salivary testosterone levels and voice pitch, or fundamental frequency,among 61 male and 88 female college students. Higher levels of testosterone were significantlyassociated with lower pitched voices among males but not among females.
Tips to Care for Your Aging Voice at Home
Vocal Range
Taylor Swift has a soprano voice, which means her singing is in a higher range for female singers. Swift's vocal range spans from C#3 to G5, allowing her to both sing in a comfortable lower register and effortlessly reach higher notes.
In fact, studies have shown that a deep voice isn't just more attractive to both men and women, but can also suggest a higher social status and a great level of reliability.
Age-related changes to the body, such as decreased lung capacity and loss of strength and muscle tone, can result in a voice that is high, thin, breathy, shaky or reedy. A loss of volume, as well as vocal fatigue, are also common.
The normal aging process can affect the larynx and vocal cords in several ways: Atrophy (shrinkage) of muscle. Thinning of mucous membranes. Stiffening of connective tissues.
Laryngitis. Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx (voice box) caused by infections, overuse, or irritants like smoke and allergens. This inflammation can lead to a hoarse or completely lost voice. Laryngitis usually causes only temporary voice changes that resolve with rest and proper care.
Of course, there's no actual universal age that all people reach their vocal peak, (this can be dependent on when you started training your voice and how hard you work at developing vocal technique) but, for singers who start training their voice young and practice technique exercises daily, it's early adulthood when ...
Cavities in the sinuses, the nose, and the back of the throat grow bigger, creating more space in the face that gives your voice more room to echo. All of these factors cause your voice to get deeper. Think of a guitar. When a thin string is plucked, it vibrates and produces a high-sounding tone.
The number one exercise for older adults is often cited as the squat, especially bodyweight or chair squats, because it builds essential leg strength for daily function, balance, and fall prevention, directly improving independence. However, a well-rounded routine also needs balance work (like Tai Chi), cardiovascular exercise (walking, swimming), and other strength training (resistance bands, push-ups) for overall health, as experts emphasize functional movement and power.
Sometimes hoarseness is linked to medical conditions that you may not be able to prevent. But you can prevent hoarseness by taking care of your voice, particularly if you use it every day for a long time. (Think teaching, singing or public speaking.)
Hydrate your voice
If you're wondering what to drink to sing better, the answer is simple: water. Water is one of the best drinks for your singing voice, with herbal teas (but not too hot) in second place. Drink water throughout the day and keep a water bottle nearby during lessons and rehearsals.
Can you have too much testosterone?
Low testosterone (Low T) in men causes decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction (ED), fatigue, reduced muscle mass, mood changes (irritability, depression), difficulty concentrating, hot flashes, and less body/facial hair, potentially leading to infertility and bone loss. Key indicators include a combination of low libido, ED, and feeling tired or sad, warranting a doctor visit for a blood test for proper diagnosis.
An adult male voice is considerably deeper than that of an adult female or prepubescent child due to changes that take place in the larynx during puberty. Levels of circulating testosterone lengthen and permanently thicken the vocal folds, lowering fundamental frequency (Jenkins, 1998).
Sir Elton John makes heartbreaking confession about effects of "distressing" battle with blindness: "It has been a very stressful time" ⬇️ 💔 I understand as I have macular degeneration & blind in one eye & impaired in the other .
In 1980, Lennon told Rolling Stone magazine: I spent the whole of my childhood with […] me glasses off because glasses were sissy. Even during extensive touring during Beatlemania (1963–66), Lennon never wore glasses during live performances, unlike his hero Buddy Holly.
During the concert, Live Aid, after the fantastic and explosive performance of Queen, Elton John said to his friend Freddie: "After you, no one else should perform, you were fantastic!" Freddie smiling replied: "You're right my dear, we were magnificent!