How do vocal cords work for kids

The difference in vocal fold size between men and women means that their voices have a different pitch. Each person's voice is different and has a slightly different pitch. This is caused by genes that influence how the larynx is made. The vocal folds discussed above are sometimes called 'true vocal folds' to distinguish them from the false vocal folds.

These are a pair of thick folds of mucous membrane. They sit directly above the true vocal folds, to protect them. When the larynx grows bigger, it tilts to a different angle and part of it sticks out inside the neck.

You can see it at the front of the throat. This is known as the Adam's apple. For girls, the larynx also grows bigger but not as much as in boys, so you can't see it through a girl's skin. There is no "Eve's apple" in a woman's neck. Everyone's timing is different, so some kids' voices might start to change earlier and some might start a little later.

Some voices might drop gradually, whereas others might drop quickly. If this hasn't happened to you yet, don't worry. And if you're going through this now, try not to stress too much about the funny noises you make. It can help to talk to a parent, an older sibling, or a friend who's already gone through the voice change.

Watch more with these video collections:. Rion Nakaya June 28, June 28, Why do some people have seasonal allergies? Rion Nakaya May 31, September 21, Straightening teeth with dental braces: An month time lapse Rion Nakaya October 25, September 8, Our voice makes sound when we use air from our lungs to vibrate our vocal cords, which sit inside your voice box.

To find your voice box, feel for the bony lump at the front of your throat. The air from the lungs causes the vocal cords to move really quickly. This is called vibration and feels a bit like buzzing. See if you can vibrate your vocal cords, like this boy in the photo.