# Old people voices

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-voices/406444>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 2, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-voices/406444 "2007-06-02T02:16:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HighFructose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/87869e/32.png) [@HighFructose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HighFructose)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-voices/406444/1 "2007-06-02T02:16:55Z")

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Why do old people, especially old ladies, have those warbly old people voices? Some kind of reverse puberty brought on by menopause? Simple wear and tear? Is there a particular age that the voice rapidly deteriorates, or does it just happen gradually? Is voice deterioration preventable by, say, speaking quieter, talking less, or attending fewer sporting events and rock concerts throughout your younger years?

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-voices/406444/2 "2007-06-02T02:22:47Z")

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Smoking is a big one. Lots of older women get voices like Marge Simpsons sisters because of that. Every workplace of reasonable size has a few. As smoking rates decline among the younger population, that should help matters in future years.

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**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\
**Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-voices/406444/3 "2007-06-02T02:35:52Z")

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Several reasons. Off the top of my head:

1.) As you grow older, you move less air through your windpipe. Your lungs no longer make new air sacs, some air sacs close due to the cumulative effects of pollution and age. Smoking can cause severe chronic obstruction. Diaphragm muscles may be weaker.

2.) The larynx and vocal cords also undergo changes with age due to malnutrition, cumulative use, damage (too much screaming at the kids to get off your lawn) etc. with changes in elasticity and function.

3.) Hormonal changes can affect the voice, with men having less testosterone and more estrogen, particularly if being treated for prostatism. Women produce less estrogen after menopause.

4.) Old people are more likely to have had episodes of pneumonia, COPD, atelectasis after surgery and chronic diseases like diabetes, heart attack and kidney disease that can further stress the lungs.

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2007, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-voices/406444/4 "2007-06-21T03:20:21Z")

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Hemorrhoids.  
Yep.  
Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2007, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-people-voices/406444/5 "2007-06-21T08:01:52Z")

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I seem to be developing problems recently. I can’t yell anymore. Not from my throat anyway. I think I can still project from my diaphragm, but my throat seems froggy all the time. I’m 63.

Until recently I had a very sexy phone voice. It was fun to see the disappointment in the pizza delivery kid’s eyes.

About five years ago I had to have my thoat passage widened a little because pills were getting stuck. I feel like my voice would benefit from that now.

I sure as hell miss singing.