Boys Voice Change-puberty

Most of the changes sound like puberty, but my son didn't experience a hoarse voice. It was a very gradual change. He is a vocalist, and he went from soprano, to alto to tenor to bass. There was no squeaking or anything odd, but maybe that was because of his voice training?

Could be.
Or it could be a cold.
According to Google:
"Boys do experience voice change during puberty, and the change can happen anywhere between the ages of 10 and 15. Typically, voice change begins somewhere around age 12 or 13, or during the middle school years."

A need to start using a deodorant somewhere in 4th or 5th grade is one common first step but they don't come in any particular order.

Additional:
It's great you and your son communicate.
As kids grow, there are lots of changes - your husband should be familiar with them - after all he went through puberty male version himself.
My husband has hairy legs - from knees to ankles he's a furry guy - and our son takes after him - they both have great legs for kilts but they aren't inclined to wear them.
Armpit hair too - that's why he prefers a speed stick deodorant instead of a roll on because the hair can get pulled with a roll on.
There are great books on the subject - if you have questions and your husband (or father) isn't available then read some before you hand them off to your son.
They cover this stuff in health class in school so he's probably more aware than you are about what's going on.
Gosh I haven't seen 'The Brady Bunch' in ages - I just don't remember the episode you mention.

Hi T.,

This question made me smile. I would agree that 11 might be a little young and that this may be an allergy or recurring bug. My darling son went through his voice change around 13 or so, give or take. It took longer than I expected and he really went through a Peter Brady phase which he hated but I thought was hilarious, not that I shared that with him. I think it's great he's sharing these changes with you. Mine knows he can approach me with anything but when it comes to physical changes with puberty, he tends to rely on his dad. And his dad reassures me that everything is progressing on schedule. Son did refuse for most of 8th grade to use his deodorant. That changed when his buddies pointed it out to him. Ah the power of peer pressure used for good and not evil. :-) Enjoy every minute of it. He'll be driving soon and off to college before you know it. Have a great day, S.

Could be any number of things.

Have you checked for a fever?
Does he suffer from allergies?

WHY are you looking in your son's drawers?

All of my boys have had their voice change at different times, there is no one set age that it happens.

Could be a cold...could be allergies....could be puberty....My son's voice just started getting deeper a bit in 6th grade (age 11))...no Peter Brady thing ....it was just a gradual thing with him(now 15)....Peach fuzz on the upper lip started about the same time. He started using deodarant at the end of 4th grade after seeing the 1st of a series of puberty films at school....As far as downstairs, I couldn't tell ya -- pediatrician tells me all is fine.....

One of my sons sounded a bit raspy at times, is that what you mean? He was older by a few years. It's kind of a gradual thing (at least in our case).

"Increase in size downstairs"....

Well, overall physical growth and development is what happens as a child ages!

Nope, seriously watching too much Brady Bunch? My sons both had high voices, they had facial hair before their voice changed. It is very subtle, sounds like he has a cold.

Being hoarse isn't anything I've ever associated with maturity. That is something I associate with coming down with something.

Yes, sounds to me like it could be. I had a crush on a boy who had the hoarseness issue with his voice. His voice would crack and go up and down when he spoke. I thought it was cute. We were in middle school, 7th grade, so he was slightly older than your son, but not by much, and besides, everyone matures at a different age. Some girls start to mature around the age of 13, others sooner, so I would assume that the same could happen with boys. Unless he has throat pain or other cold symptoms, I would not assume it's a cold and become worried.

Hoarseness is not what happened with my son. He is now 16 and I still remember the changes because my daughter teased him about it. Hoarseness is something I would see a pediatrician for, that's not normal. I would be concerned.