Gender-Affirming Voice Training (GAVT): Vocal Modification for Gender-Diverse Populations

Gender-Affirming Voice Training (GAVT): Vocal Modification for Gender-Diverse Populations

While treating voice disorders is within the scope of speech-language pathology and may be the first thing that comes to mind for voice services, many individuals seek support to align their voice with their preferred gender presentation. Such support can provide not only meaningful changes in everyday life, but also serve as preventive care for voice problems. Thus, for gender-affirming voice training (GAVT), what techniques have the most effective outcomes? A literature review was conducted from a database search (e.g., Pub Med, Medline, CINAHL) and relevant journals (e.g., Journal of Voice, American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology) for articles within the last five years for U.S. English-speaking adult participants. Experiments included in the results had at least one group of transgender participants and objective and subjective aspects for the study design. Findings concluded that for modifying fundamental frequency (F0), circumlaryngeal massage and manual laryngeal reposturing were promising options but those changes did not always coincide with vocal satisfaction for the participants. Findings for modifying the second formant (F2), alone or in combination with F0, indicated that changes in frequency, which are perceived as pitch, may influence gender perception. Practitioners working with individuals seeking GAVT should continue to prioritize both objective changes (i.e., frequency modifications) and perceptual measures (i.e., how well the individual and others perceive the desired gender based on pitch).