
When we hit puberty, hormones invariably cause the voice to change. High frequency sounds reach our ears faster, partially explaining why kids’ voices can be so grating. The higher the Hz, or frequency of the sound wave, the higher the pitch. The length, size, and tension of the folds determine what’s known as the fundamental frequency of the resulting sound, which averages about 125 Hz in men, 210 Hz in women, and 300-plus Hz in children. These folds are stretched horizontally across the larynx (the voice box) and, when air is brought up from the lungs to speak, they vibrate. Anatomically, males have larger vocal folds (aka vocal cords) than females, so, even before hormones surge during adolescence, boys typically have deeper voices than girls. The first and most obvious vocal determinate is your sex. Height, weight, hormones, provenance, allergies, structural anomalies, emotions, and environmental factors all play a role in determining how your voice ultimately emerges, which means not only is your voice yours alone, but that you’ll have a few variations on that voice throughout your life. Though people may share a similar pitch or certain vocal characteristics, under close examination, no two voices are alike. Current patients can also make appointments through m圜EENTAchart with physicians they have already seen.As a marker of singularity, our voices are as effective as our fingerprints. New patients can make appointments online with our ENT doctors in North and South Carolina. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. This blog is for informational purposes only. Schedule your appointment today to enjoy your melodies again.

For any voice, vocal cord, or throat concerns you have, reach out to a CEENTA voice and swallowing specialist to diagnose and treat your condition. Whether you enjoy alcoholic beverages or not, you might find that your voice is less than stellar one day. At the end of the first buzz, it can lead to mumbling or less enthusiastic speaking. This can make your voice go through several pitches as the drink affects your mood. While alcoholic beverages are used to lighten a mood, its nature as a depressant can cause emotions to ebb and flow. Constant drinking irritates the larynx to create that familiar “ sore throat” feeling that’s present from constant yelling. While there are many causes, such as illness, exposure to dust, and smoking, consistently consuming alcohol can bring about these same symptoms. Laryngitis in general is the inflammation of the voice box (larynx). Beer in particular is pretty rough on GERD and your voice due to its carbonation. Certain types of alcoholic beverages can make GERD symptoms worse by relaxing the sphincter muscle and allowing stomach acid to come back to the esophagus. Too much alcohol can upset the stomach, but that can also play a role in how your voice is projected. This is turn can negatively affect how your brain processes information, leading to slower reaction times and movements, including your ability to speak. Slurred speechĪs alcohol enters the bloodstream, it can increase the amount of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) that the brain produces. That in turn can mitigate your vocal chords from being lubricated and create a more raspy tone.

Despite being a beverage, alcohol can cause dehydration and take away moisture from your throat. You might be tempted to use alcohol to soothe your anxiety before a performance, but it can actually impact your singing ability. While many know about alcohol’s ability to impact judgement and motor skills, its impact on your voice is one that might surprise you. Alcoholic beverages have been used for centuries to provide relaxation, and the effects have been well-documented.
