Posted by Tony Stewart on August 29, 2014 at 12:19:18:
In Reply to: Jon Wyatt's voice change posted by Just Wondering on August 25, 2014 at 15:43:20:
The original poster is correct in his or her guess. Mike had developed polyps on his vocal cords and was told they needed to be surgically removed. That is why he was on vacation prior to coming back with the voice change.
Polyps are developed on many singers' and other vocal performers like TV & Radio broadcasters' voice boxes. They must be biopsied to make sure they are not cancerous or signify a more serious disorder is developing. The voice can be altered immediately after the surgery and for a couple months after, because of the inflammation related to the surgical cuts and the healing process after. The voice usually comes back completely to where it was before. Sometimes it does stay a little different, usually a little more smooth and slightly higher in my experience.
Sorry, Mike Kristof is Jon Wyatt's other on-air name in case my reference was confusing.