During puberty, boys’ voices change to a deeper pitch. However, some adolescents who have already passed this stage suffer from a vocal disorder called puberphonia, in which their voice retains a high-pitched, childlike timbre. This phenomenon, also known as “mutational falsetto,” can lead to self-esteem issues during adulthood.
What is puberphonia?
Puberphonia is a voice disorder characterized by the persistence of a high-pitched voice after puberty. It is more common in males.
During adolescence, the larynx typically descends, causing the vocal cords to lengthen and thicken. As a result, adolescents begin to experience a deeper voice, with a pitch that drops to an octave lower than that of boys. This typically occurs between the ages of 13 and 14 in boys.
In people with puberphonia, this morphological process doesn’t fully develop, so they maintain a high-pitched voice. Or, to put it another way, the adolescent continues to experience changes in their body, but maintains a voice tone more characteristic of childhood.
How does puberphonia affect adolescents?
The main consequence of puberphonia in adolescents is a lack of self-esteem. This is caused by the fact that their body shape (increasingly resembling that of an adult male) doesn’t match the high-pitched tone of their voice.
A man’s high-pitched voice can lead to self-confidence issues , leading to social isolation . Difficulty relating to other people or making new friends is also common.
Some adolescents with puberphonia tend to appear “invisible” when surrounded by people who might judge them for their voice. For example, they might avoid participating in class or avoid situations that involve interacting in large groups.
There have been cases of bullying that have led to mental health problems in adolescents. As parents, we must learn to identify possible symptoms of mental illness to address them as quickly as possible.
Causes of puberphonia
There doesn’t seem to be an organic cause for this. However, some studies point to certain factors that can cause puberphonia, such as:
- Stress during childhood.
- Psychogenic causes.
- Late development of sexual characteristics.
- Developmental delay.
If we look at the morphology of adolescents, those with puberphonia do not have their larynx positioned correctly. Since it does not descend as it should, the vocal cords are more tense than usual. As a result, the vocal cords produce higher-pitched sounds, similar to a falsetto.
Is puberphonia a medical condition?
Puberphonia is not considered a medical condition with detrimental effects on health. This disorder does not entail any direct adverse complications. However, as we mentioned, this high-pitched male voice can have side effects on self-perception.
Symptoms and characteristics of puberphonia
These are the main symptoms of puberphonia in adolescents:
- High-pitched tone of voice.
- Bitonality . Sometimes the timbre of the voice alternates between higher-pitched sounds and lower-pitched ones when coughing, crying, or laughing.
- Voice fatigue . People with this disorder often experience fatigue when speaking due to the additional effort required to do so at a high-pitched voice.
How to identify puberphonia in a teenager?
Starting at age 13, a male adolescent’s voice typically deepens. One way to identify puberphonia is the absence of this change.
Some teenagers try to hide this characteristic by forcing their pitch toward lower notes. Even so, they don’t usually maintain this artificial voice change over time. When they’re alone or when they forget to block it out, their characteristic high-pitched voice appears.
Differences between puberphonia and other voice disorders
Unlike other voice disorders such as aphonia or functional dysphonia, puberphonia is not related to vocal cord damage. Other disorders, such as spasmodic dysphonia or chronic laryngitis, have a neuronal origin, which is not the case with puberphonia.
On the other hand, puberphonia does not imply a loss of speech quality or diction. It only affects the timbre, without diminishing the quality. Other disorders, such as hoarseness or aphonia, prevent you from communicating.
How is puberphonia diagnosed?
Puberphonia can be diagnosed during a medical consultation. You can also see a speech therapist, who can confirm the presence of this disorder through brief medical tests.
When should you consult a doctor or therapist?
This condition does not have negative health consequences. However, it is recommended to consult a therapist if it hurts the person’s mental health.
Treatment of puberphonia
There are rehabilitation treatments that attempt to adjust the lower voice tone to one that better suits the individual’s age and gender. Breathing techniques are used to lower the pitch . In most cases, this speech therapy offers good results.
If there is a hormonal background to the dysphonia, a medical professional may recommend hormonal treatment.
Only in the most severe cases, where physiological factors are present, may surgical intervention be necessary. These procedures include:
- Vocal length surgery. The length of the vocal cords is altered to achieve a deeper pitch.
- Laryngeal modification. The goal is to adjust the position and size of the larynx.
- Laryngoplasty. This procedure introduces testosterone into the vocal cords to modify vocal resonance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does puberphonia go away on its own?
Generally speaking, puberphonia does not usually disappear over time.
Is puberphonia common in adolescents?
The disorder of puberphonia is not common among adolescents. Voice change during puberty is different, as it affects all boys between the ages of 13 and 14.
Does puberphonia only affect boys?
No, puberphonia affects both men and women. However, it tends to be more noticeable in men.
Is the treatment for puberphonia painful or invasive?
A treatment based on breathing exercises and auditory training is noninvasive. Surgery, on the other hand, is a medical procedure that requires recovery.