Voice therapy
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Voice therapy, also known as speech therapy or voice training, encompasses a myriad of techniques employed in the management of voice disorders[1] or for improvement of the human voice for the purpose of singing or acting, or for achieving a specific gender intonation, as in the case of transgender people. It is provided by speech-language pathologists or voice coaches.
Differences between male and female voices
There are differences in male and female voice although considerable overlap exists between male and female vocal characteristics.
Broad types
- Voice feminization
Voice feminization is the desired outcome of surgical techniques, speech therapy, self-help programs and a general litany of other techniques to acquire a female-sounding voice from a perceived male sounding voice.
- Voice masculinization
This is the opposite of voice feminization, being the change of a voice from feminine to masculine.
Procedures
Voice scientists, speech pathologists, language pathologists and ENT physicians (otolaryngologists) organize voice production into five components. They are:
- Respiration - power source
- Phonation - sound source
- Resonance - sound modifier
- Articulation - speech modifier
- Prosody - melodic aspects of speech
Vocal surgeries
While hormone replacement therapy and gender reassignment surgery can cause a more feminine outward appearance, they do little to alter the pitch or sound of the voice. The existing vocal structure can be surgically altered using procedures that include
- Cricothyroid approximation (CTA) (is the most common)
- Laryngoplasty
- Thyrohyoid approximation
- Laryngeal reduction surgery (surgical shortening of the vocal cords)
- Laser assisted voice adjustment (LAVA)
Voice prosthesis
Voice prosthesis is an artificial device, usually made of silicone that is used to help laryngectomized patients to speak.
Applications
Voice disorders
Voice disorders and speech disorder are managed effectively with voice therapy.[2]
Vocal pedagogy
- Vocal pedagogy for singing, particularly opera
- Dialect training for actors who need to speak in a particular dialect or accent
While many trans women wish to sing like cisgender women, it will require a lot of training for one to achieve a feminine-sounding voice. This is why most prepubescent males who begin hormone replacement therapy have a higher chance of retaining this quality. See castrato for more information.
Voice therapy in transgender individuals
Non-surgical techniques undertaken by transsexual women as a part of gender transition to make their voices sound female.
Professionals involved
Professions that practice voice training include:
- Speech-language pathologists
- Vocal coaches
- Vocal pedagogists
- ENT surgeons
References
- ↑ Aronson, Arnold Elvin (2009). Clinical Voice Disorders. Thieme. ISBN 978-1-58890-662-5.
- ↑ Speyer, R. (September 2008). "Effects of Voice Therapy: A Systematic Review" (PDF). Journal of Voice. 22 (5): 565–580. doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2006.10.005.