Adolescent male-to-female transgender voice and communication therapy

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2012.06.008
• Publication Date: 2012-07-02T18:12:09Z
• Authors: Adrienne Hancock; Lauren Helenius
• Keywords: Male; Adolescent; Voice Quality; Communication; Age Factors; Speech Therapy; Transgender Persons; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Voice Training; 0302 clinical medicine; Voice; Humans; Speech; Female

Current research to describe and evaluate effectiveness of voice and communication therapy for male-to-female transgender people is limited to adults. This paper provides rationale, procedures, and outcomes from voice and communication therapy for a male-to-female transgender adolescent 15 years of age. Treatment addressed vocal hygiene, breath support, fundamental frequency, intonation, resonance and vocal quality, and rate. Positive acoustic, perceptual, and client self-report outcomes confirm treatment effectiveness for this adolescent.The reader will be able to recognize common aspects of transgender voice and communication therapy provided by a speech-language pathologist. The reader will also be able to explain the effectiveness of therapy provided to an adolescent speaker.