What physical changes occur in prepubescent students, causing their voices to crack?

• A. The vocal cords shorten and the larynx enlarges
• B. The larynx enlarges while the vocal cords shorten
• C. The larynx (Adams Apple) enlarges and the vocal chords lengthen and thicken
• D. The larynx lowers and vocal folds thin

Answer: (C)

During puberty, the voice changes because the larynx grows and the vocal folds (cords) change in length and thickness. The larynx enlarges, often becoming more prominent as the Adam’s apple appears. At the same time, the vocal cords lengthen and thicken, increasing their mass. This combination lowers the pitch of the voice, but the growth can happen at slightly different rates, causing the vocal mechanism to go through unstable phases that produce cracking sounds as it settles into a new, lower range. This is why the described change—laryngeal enlargement with vocal cords lengthening and thickening—is the best explanation for voice cracking. The other possibilities misstate the process, such as suggesting shortening of the cords or changes that don’t reflect how the voice lowers during puberty.