What You Should Know About Presbyphonia

The Aging Voice

As you get older, you may notice changes to your voice. Some older adults begin to feel like they can't speak up as well as they once could, or notice that the pitch of their voice has gotten higher or lower over time. Here's what you should know about the causes and treatments for age-related voice changes called presbyphonia, 

Three Women Pause on a Walk
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Definition

Presbyphonia is a term used to describe changes associated with the aging voice. While many older adults are able to preserve the voice they've always had — singing and speaking well into their 80s and beyond — problems in volume, breath support, hoarseness, and fatigue increasingly are sending older adults to ear, nose, and throat medical specialists (otolaryngologists) for advice.

Causes

Most age-related changes in voice quality manifest after the age of 60. Physiological changes to the multilayered vocal folds (cords) within the larynx (voice box) — along with the effects of conditions like reflux or age-related diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, may not be reversible. 

After several decades of relatively stable voice, noticeable change can occur in the later years of life. As our bodies age, we lose muscle mass, our mucous membranes thin and become drier, and we lose some of the fine coordination that we had in younger years. It is no surprise that these changes occur in the larynx as well, and this leads to changes in our voice. Your healthcare provider may call these changes vocal cord atrophy or bowing, presbyphonia, or presbylaryngis.

Symptoms

Some common vocal changes that happen with age include:

  • Shakiness/tremor in the voice
  • Reduced voice volume and projection
  • Difficulty being heard by others
  • Higher pitch voice (men)
  • Lower pitch voice (women)
  • Reduced vocal endurance

As you age, you and your peers may experience a reduced hearing ability, which amplifies the problems of voice changes and speaking quieter as you age.

Treatment

Speech therapy is often effective in helping older adults project their voice more efficiently and with less effort. A speech-language pathologist can design a vocal fitness program for you that can help to improve the health of your voice. 

In some cases, medical or surgical treatment may be an option to help improve the strength, steadiness or endurance of your voice.

Even if you haven't yet experienced any age-related changes in your voice, it's a good idea to exercise your voice. Just like physical fitness programs can help keep your body strong as you age, working out your voice can help keep it strong. The American Academy of Otolaryngology recommends reading a book or paper out loud for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, two or three times a day, and singing along with the radio.​

When to Get Help

Almost all problems relating to the voice are treatable. And while hoarseness and vocal difficulties may just be a sign of aging, any change to your voice could be a warning sign that something else is wrong. An otolaryngologist will be able to rule out more serious health concerns and can suggest treatments to help you get your old voice back.

Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  • American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery. (n.d.). The Voice and Aging. 
  • Kendall, Katherine.  "Presbyphonia: A Review."  Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery Issue: Volume 15(3), June 2007, p 137–140
  • Lee Akst. Director, Johns Hopkins Voice Center. Interview conducted by phone June 10, 2014.
  • Martins RH, Gonçalvez TM, Pessin AB, Branco A. "Aging Voice: Presbyphonia." Aging Clin Exp Res. 2014 Feb;26(1):1-5.
Sharon Basaraba

By Sharon Basaraba
Sharon Basaraba is an award-winning reporter and senior scientific communications advisor for Alberta Health Services in Alberta, Canada.