United Kingdom, Feb. 4 -- Ariana Grande has insisted she changes her speaking voice to "preserve" her vocal health.

The 'Wicked' actress has addressed her changing timbre, with some fans still criticising her for speaking in a higher register than she did in the past.

She told the 'Smartless' podcast: "The thing that I do that perplexes people so much - and it's just so funny because if you're a person who uses their voice, you know about this.

"If I have a long day of press or if I have to sing, I'll place [my voice] a little higher. I'll change my vocal placement to kind of preserve.

"But that is just something that's healthy for the voice. It's just basically pitching your voice up a tiny bit."

The 31-year-old star called out her ...