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What is Gender Affirming Voice Therapy?
Gender affirming voice therapy is a type of voice therapy conducted by a Speech-Language Pathologists for those who feel their current voice does not align with their gender identity and/or gender expression.
Our voices are deeply tied to our self-expression in ways that many people may not often consider. But for some transgender individuals, being mis-gendered by voice can be a deeply painful experience. Read more on Gender Affirming Voice Therapy here.
Transmasculine Voice Therapy
Transmasculine voice therapy is specific for those looking to lower their pitch and find a “bigger”, “darker”, “richer” sound that feels more authentic to their gender expression. Some common voice complaints from those wishing to produce a traditionally male sounding voice are sounding “too young”, “too quiet” and “too expressive”.
There are several key components to consider in transmasculine voice therapy:
Pitch - The avergae cis-male pitch spans approximately 100-140Hz (compared to a cis-female which is approximately 180-220Hz). For the majority of individuals on testosterone, pitch levels tend to reach the cis-male range within 9-months to 1-year as the vocal cords thicken.
During this time it is common to experience “vocal instability” somewhat like male puberty in which voice cracks, a sore throat and difficulty producing a loud voice are common. Please note that not all trans masculine and non-binary speakers may want or have access to testosterone.
Exogenous testosterone is not the only way to masculinize the voice!
Intonation - The rise and fall of pitch while speaking helps to convey meaning, emotion, and emphasis in communication. Research has shown that (stereotypically) cis-women tend to be more expressive, and often speak with a rising pitch, whereas cis-men tend to have a downward fall in pitch, even when asking questions. In order to emphasize and express, cis-men typically rely on lengthened, or louder syllables.
Resonance - Vocal resonance is how we shape the sounds we produce as it vibrates through the vocal tract (throat, mouth and nose). Cis-men typically have a "deeper" and "fuller" sound due to an anatomically larger vocal tract, larger chest cavity and a longer vocal tract. However, research has shown that conscious behavioural choices can shape the resonance system in a way that can override our physiology! Techniques such as "open mouth" and "open throat" talking and practice with specific vowel sounds can help develop a more authentic resonance in transmasculine speakers!
Try it out... say the word "spa" and feel where the vowel "a" vibrates in your vocal tract, then compare that to the "e" sound in "see". Which word sounds "brighter", which word sounds "deeper"? Can you exaggerate this difference?
Transmasculine Voice Therapy at Beyond Speech
There are several other components not mentioned here that may also be considered in trans masculine voice therapy, such as: vocal hygiene, language and non-verbal communication, counselling, ect.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to send us an email or set up a free virtual consultation!
Please contact jstetz@beyondspeechservices.com with any questions.
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