The Aging Voice

Listening Carefully to Voice Changes  by Judith Graham.  The New York Times.  September 26, 2012.

In a unique study,  Eric Hunter of the National Center for Voice and Speech at the University of Utah traced the voice changes in Gordon B. Hinckley, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in annual speeches he gave to the faculty of Brigham Young University.  Since Mr. Hinckley didn't smoke or drink, he would have as "normal" a voice as one would expect.

Using computer analysis of pitch, the research team compared his voice over time.  Dr. Hunter discovered that Hinckley's voice dropped markedly between ages 50 and 60, continued to drop from ages 60 to 68, flattened out, and then began to climb.  At 74 his pitch began to rise perhaps as a result of muscle-related deterioration in the voice box, causing him to apply more vocal force to stretch the cords.

Vocal changes in the aged can have important consequences.  If vocal changes are accompanied by hearing loss, communications can be more difficult.  Also changes in voice can signify changes in swallowing to come.