In a desperate attempt to maintain the status quo for vocal pitch, some teenagers may adopt a falsetto register.
All this, of course, is occurring at a time of life when the teenager‰s concept of himself is most liable anyway. Teenagers are struggling for self identity as their bodies and social roles change, and then their voices begin to go haywire.
Still most teenagers cope with it and eventually accept the change. A few, however, find it overwhelming.
In a desparate attempt to keep their pitch close to what it was, at least in their minds, and to preserve their self concept, they throw their voices into a falsetto register which is now more easily sustainable.
Although people may be startled to see a six foot, 200 pound volatile teenager with a voice like Shirley Temple, they may elect to say nothing about it in his presence so as not to aggravate him.