The Effectiveness of Gender Affirming Voice Training for Transfeminine Clients: A Comparison of Traditional Versus Intensive Delivery Schedules

Quinn, Sterling; Oates, Jennifer; Dacakis, Georgia

doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.03.001

Cited by 6 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Changes in the acoustic measures did not correlate significantly with changes in TWVQ 5. Quinn et al (2022) [ 15 ] Australia Voice feminization therapy Traditional group (one 45-min session per week over 12 weeks), (intensive group) three 45-min sessions per week over 4 weeks Intensive Group (22–47, Media = 31) Traditional group 21–52, media = 33 Elevate speech pitch and feminize vocal resonance, maintaining vocal health and maximizing vocal strength, flexibility and efficiency. Education and advice on vocal health and voice production; exercises to improve respiratory support and diaphragmatic breathing; head, neck and torso stretches; vocal warm-up/semi-occluded vocal tract exercises; vocal function exercises; and resonant voice exercises, regular practice at home, and structured transfer tasks outside the clinic to facilitate generalization Voice Quality Index v.02.06 (AVQI) Praat Both training programs were effective, with significant positive change in relation to the auditory-perceptual and acoustic evaluation of the voice, greater vocal satisfaction and congruence between gender identity and expression, and reduction of the negative impact of voice concerns in everyday life 6.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of the 16 studies included (Table 1 ) in the systematic review, six studies performed VFT [ 14 , 15 , 21 – 24 ] in the study group; among these, two carried out case–control studies, but the control group was without intervention. Others carried out cohort studies, retrospective and prospective, with and without a control group.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Others carried out cohort studies, retrospective and prospective, with and without a control group. The authors [ 15 ] compared two intervention groups with VFT (traditional and intensive) and investigated [ 24 ] the difference between VFT and phonosurgery (see Additional file 1 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Current studies [ 14 , 15 ] provide more robust evidence of the effectiveness of speech therapy, despite the feminization of the voice for TW remains a challenge for professionals due to the lack of standardization of protocols, evaluation measurement, and effectiveness of the vocal techniques used. In a retrospective study [ 14 ] of 16 cases on the effects of a voice and communication modification program for TW, the results indicated that individuals showed a significant improvement in subjective results, even with small changes in acoustic measurements and vice versa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a retrospective study [ 14 ] of 16 cases on the effects of a voice and communication modification program for TW, the results indicated that individuals showed a significant improvement in subjective results, even with small changes in acoustic measurements and vice versa. Another study [ 15 ] provided evidence that gender-affirming voice training for TW clients can be effective, both in the intensive and traditional form, in relation to acoustic measurements and vocal satisfaction; however, the training was not sufficient for all participants to reach their goal to develop a consistent feminine voice. Results from other research [ 16 ] agree with previous studies with continued targeting of f o and vocal tract resonance in voice and communication feminization/masculinization training programs, and provide preliminary evidence for more emphasis on vocal intensity and speech rate and for the importance of non-verbal communication targets in voice training programs and gender-affirming communication [ 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Speech therapy for transgender women: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

et al. 2023

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Background We systematically reviewed the literature and performed a meta-analysis on the effects of speech therapy and phonosurgery, for transgender women, in relation to the fundamental frequency gain of the voice, regarding the type of vocal sample collected, and we compared the effectiveness of the treatments. In addition, the study design, year, country, types of techniques used, total therapy time, and vocal assessment protocols were analyzed. Methods We searched the PubMed, Lilacs, and SciELO databases for observational studies and clinical trials, published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, between January 2010 and January 2023. The selection of studies was carried out according to Prisma 2020. The quality of selected studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Results Of 493 studies, 31 were deemed potentially eligible and retrieved for full-text review and 16 were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Six studies performed speech therapy and ten studies phonosurgery. The speech therapy time did not influence the post-treatment gain in voice fundamental frequency (p = 0.6254). The type of sample collected significantly influenced the post-treatment voice frequency gain (p < 0.01). When the vocal sample was collected through vowel (p < 0.01) and reading (p < 0.01), the gain was significantly more heterogeneous between the different types of treatment. Phonosurgery is significantly more effective in terms of fundamental frequency gain compared to speech therapy alone, regardless of the type of sample collected (p < 0.01). The average gain of fundamental frequency after speech therapy, in the /a/ vowel sample, was 27 Hz, 39.05 Hz in reading, and 25.42 Hz in spontaneous speech. In phonosurgery, there was a gain of 71.68 Hz for the vowel /a/, 41.07 Hz in reading, and 39.09 Hz in spontaneous speech. The study with the highest gain (110 Hz) collected vowels, and the study with the lowest gain (15 Hz), spontaneous speech. The major of the included studies received a score between 4 and 8 on the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Conclusion The type of vocal sample collected influences the gain result of the fundamental frequency after treatment. Speech therapy and phonosurgery increased the fundamental frequency and improved female voice perception and vocal satisfaction. However, phonosurgery yielded a greater fundamental frequency gain in the different samples collected. The study protocol was registered at Prospero (CRD42017078446).

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