Impact of Early Postnatal Androgen Exposure on Voice Development

Abstract

BackgroundThe impact of early postnatal androgen exposure on female laryngeal tissue may depend on certain characteristics of this exposure. We assessed the impact of the dose, duration, and timing of early androgen exposure on the vocal development of female subjects who had been treated for adrenocortical tumor (ACT) in childhood.MethodsThe long-term effects of androgen exposure on the fundamental vocal frequency (F0), vocal pitch, and final height and the presence of virilizing signs were examined in 9 adult (age, 18.4 to 33.5 years) and 10 adolescent (13.6 to 17.8 years) female ACT patients. We also compared the current values with values obtained 0.9 years to 7.4 years after these subjects had undergone ACT surgery, a period during which they had shown normal androgen levels.ResultsOf the 19 subjects, 17 (89%) had been diagnosed with ACT before 4 years of age, 1 (5%) at 8.16 years, and 1 (5%) at 10.75 years. Androgen exposure (2 to 30 months) was sufficiently strong to cause pubic hair growth in all subjects and clitoromegaly in 74% (14/19) of the subjects, but did not reduce their height from the target value. Although androgen exposure induced a remarkable reduction in F0 (132 Hz) and moderate pitch virilization in 1 subject and partial F0 virilization, resulting in F0 of 165 and 169 Hz, in 2 subjects, the majority had normal F0 ranging from 189 to 245 Hz.ConclusionsFemale laryngeal tissue is less sensitive to androgen exposure between birth and adrenarche than during other periods. Differential larynx sensitivity to androgen exposure in childhood and F0 irreversibility in adulthood are age-, concentration-, duration-, and timing-dependent events that may also be affected by exposure to inhibitory or stimulatory hormones. Further studies are required to better characterize each of these factors.

Your Cheatin’ Voice Will Tell on You: Detection of Past Infidelity from Voice

“… O’Connor and colleagues (2011) attributed their findings to that fact that higher pitched female voices reflect higher estrogen and mate value, and therefore these women may have more opportunity to cheat. However, our findings suggest that perhaps testosterone, which is linked to both lower pitch ( Abitbol et al, 1999 ; Damrose, 2009 ; Evans et al, 2008 ; Grisa et al, 2012 ) and sex drive, even in women ( Abitbol et al, 1999 ; Davis, 2000 ), is what may be driving this perception for both sexes. Further, our findings are in line with evidence showing that women tend to speak with deeper voices when conveying sexual interest to men ( Hughes et al, 2010 ; Karpf, 2006 ).…”

Regulation of Voice Development in Childhood and Puberty, A Review

“…Specific focus on voice development in treated adrenal cortical tumours was made in 9 adults and 10 adolescents female were F0 was reduced to 132 Hertz in 1 and F0 to 165/168 Hz respectively in two subjects. The majority had normal F0, from 189 to 245 Hz [86].…”