• Question: why do peoples voices change when they have a cold?

    Asked by oliviaeganx to Damien, Suzi, Tim on 23 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Hi @oliviaeganx
      Thanks for this question.
      I assume it’s because when you get a cold, the hollow passages in your head (the nasal passages and your sinuses) become full of mucus. Although your speech is controlled by your vocal chords, the sound they make gets amplified by the hollow parts of your head, so if these are blocked your voice will sound different.

      Hope this answers your question! My voice currently sounds funny because my nose is completely blocked! I sounds quite silly!

    • Photo: Tim Fosker

      Tim Fosker answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Hi @oliviaeganx

      I agree with Suzi. In fact some speech sounds will be more affected than others because some require you to block the passage of air out of your mouth and push it out of your nose. These are called ‘nasals’ and they are sounds like the ‘m’ in mum or the ‘n’ in nun. If you try to say ‘mmmmmmmmmm’ while pinching your nose you will feel the pressure build up and it will sound quite funny. So I would avoid sentences with loads of m’s and n’s when your nose is blocked – “by noon none of my jam is made” 🙂

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