The Aging Voice: Client Fact Sheet
 
Effects of Aging on the Respiratory Mechanism

• Decreases in vital capacity

• Loss of elasticity in thoracic skeleton

• Muscular weakness

• Anecdotal reports of reduction in loudness in the elderly - not demonstrated objectively

Effects of Aging on Laryngeal Mechanism

• Cartilages calcify and ossify

• Changes in cricoarytenoid joints limiting approximation of vocal folds

• Changes/breakdowns in layers of the lamina propria

• Laryngeal bowing - presbylaryngeus
  
   

Functional Effects of Aging on the Voice
 

• In 5th decade male fundamental increases, while female f0 decreases

• Decline in pitch control

• Reduction in pitch range

• Perception of vocal roughness, aperiodicity and breathiness
   

Tips for Differential Diagnosis:

Signs indicating complaints of hoarseness is not due to benign signs of aging:
 

• Voice changes of relatively recent onset

• Associated pain with phonation

• Associated pain or difficulty swallowing

• Presence of a new neck mass

Tips to Protect & Preserve Voice: “Sound as Young as You Feel”:

• Eat Sensibly, get plenty of rest and keep your body, brain and voice well hydrated

• Use the strong muscles of your lower abdomen to support your voice

• Keep hydrates by drinking eight glasses of water every day. Further increase your moisture level by using humidifies and keeping plants around

• Be alert for voice-damaging symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

(Grant-Williams, 2002)