What to do if your voice becomes hoarse during the voice change period

Adolescence is the best period of growth for children. Boys and girls at this stage will experience some physical changes to a greater or lesser extent. Don't be too surprised. Children's voices will become particularly unpleasant during the voice change period, but after they get through the voice change period, their voices will become extremely beautiful. Don’t be too depressed if you have a hoarse voice, be more confident. Just like the story of the ugly duckling, it was very ugly when it was young, but became beautiful when it grew up. However, many people don’t know that the ugly duckling was actually a swan, but its brilliance was hidden.

After puberty begins, the vocal cords of both male and female adolescents gradually undergo significant changes. Boys' vocal cords grow from 6-8 mm in length in childhood to 20-24 mm, and as they grow, they become relatively wider and thicker; girls' vocal cords gradually grow to 15-18 mm and become relatively narrower at the same time. These changes resulted in significant changes in the voices of both male and female adolescents, with the childish voices gradually disappearing. Boys' pronunciation frequency is low, and their voice becomes rough and low; girls' pronunciation frequency is high, and their voice becomes high and sharp. This period of change is called the voice change period. Some boys' voice changes so strongly that their voices become slightly rough with a cracked and hoarse tone, and they produce a falsetto, commonly known as a "broken throat." In fact, this is just a temporary normal physiological phenomenon and there is no need to worry. It usually lasts for half a year to a year.

During the voice change period, the rapidly developing vocal cords will have mild inflammatory edema. If there are adverse external stimuli, it is easy to cause permanent damage to the vocal cords, which will affect the voice in adulthood. Therefore, young men and women should pay attention to protecting their voices during the voice change period. That is, pay attention to hygiene in singing and reading, do not shout loudly or sing for a long time, "tension your voice", do not eat sour, spicy and irritating foods; do not smoke or drink; drink more boiled water, light tea, or soak (fry) chrysanthemum and Ophiopogon water, or Polygonum multiflorum water.

Teenagers generally enter the voice change period around the age of 14-16. This period is the stage when their larynx and vocal cords grow and develop. Its manifestations include: hoarseness, narrow vocal range, pronunciation fatigue, local congestion and edema, increased secretions, etc.

The voice change period generally lasts from six months to one year. In order to maintain your voice during the voice change period, in addition to paying attention to using your voice scientifically and rationally and not letting it get too tired, it is also very important to pay attention to dietary conditioning.

First of all, attention should be paid to the intake of collagen and elastin. The vocal organs are mainly composed of the larynx, Adam's apple and thyroid cartilage, which are composed of collagen and elastin. The vocal cords are also made of a thin membrane of elastic protein. Therefore, adolescents during the voice change period should eat more foods rich in collagen and elastin, such as pig's trotters, pig skin, tendons, fish, beans, seafood, etc.

Second, you should take in B vitamins and calcium. Vitamin B2 and vitamin B6 can promote the development of skin; calcium can promote the development of thyroid cartilage. Foods rich in B vitamins mainly include celery, tomatoes, eggs, beans, animal liver and fresh fruits. Foods rich in calcium mainly include fish, shrimp, milk, and soy products.

Third, both staple foods and side dishes should be soft and delicate foods. Do not eat fried peanuts, popcorn, rice crust, nuts and fried hard and dry foods to avoid mechanical damage to the throat.

Fourth, drink plenty of water. It can reduce or eliminate local secretions and avoid secondary infection.

Fifth, eat less sour, bitter and irritating foods, such as garlic, chili, ginger, leek, etc., because these foods will irritate the trachea, larynx and vocal cords. Don't drink too hot water or too many cold drinks. Being too cold or too hot is not good for your vocal cords. You should also avoid smoking and drinking to prevent aggravating local aseptic inflammation.

Sixth, chew food slowly when eating. Avoid eating quickly and be careful not to let sand or fish bones in the food injure the tissues in your throat.

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