Dear PlayaAndy91,

Be patient.

At puberty, the hormone testosterone causes a guy's larynx, or voice box, to increase in size. The larynx often grows bigger so rapidly that it causes a guy's voice to "break," crack, and squeak. As the vocal cords in the larynx get thicker and longer, the tone of the voice deepens.

When the larynx finishes growing, a guy will end up with a voice that's consistently lower than it used to be. The same thing happens as girls mature into women, but it usually doesn't happen as rapidly for them — or as much.

Some guys' voices change relatively quickly, and it might be obvious that it's happening. For other guys, the process is so gradual that many people don't even notice

Remember, puberty doesn't happen all at once — it happens in stages. So a girl or boy may show some signs of puberty at an early age (like breasts beginning to grow or a voice that's starting to crack), but may not show other signs of puberty until she or he is much older (like getting a period or growing facial hair). Believe it or not, it can take up to 20 years of age for all changes to take place.

If it turns out that your voice is higher pitched than you would like after puberty, you might think about getting professional help. A qualified voice coach or speech therapist may be able to help you lower the pitch.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.