Voice therapy and
communication skills for
the transgender and
non-binary individual
Information for patients
Speech and Language Therapy
Voice and communication therapy is offered as part of the Sheffield
Gender Programme based at Porterbrook Clinic. This leaflet helps to
explain why you have been referred and what therapy will entail. If you
have any questions after reading this information leaflet please discuss
these with your therapist at your initial appointment.
On receipt of the referral letter, the Speech and Language Therapy
Department (SLT) will aim to see you within 5 weeks. Depending on the
stage you are at in the gender programme and your transition this may
be a 'one off' information session or the start of therapy. Once regular
therapy commences there will be home practice consisting of exercises,
which are most successful when carried out when living in your chosen
gender.
It is advisable that you come to all your appointments as scheduled to
maximise the benefit of therapy. Therapy for adapting voice and
communication skills will work on achieving a safe change in voice and
will look at various aspects of voice and its production. It is not possible
to change people's perception of your voice as either male or
female simply by altering the pitch. Therapy will focus on many other
aspects e.g. non-verbal communication.
Therapy for transmen/female to male transsexual
individuals
One of the effects of testosterone is to deepen the pitch of your voice.
This is a direct result of your vocal cords increasing in bulk. During the
early stages of hormone taking, your voice may be unpredictable and
the muscles around your vocal cords will feel the strain. Voice therapy is
therefore important to facilitate a smooth transition from female to
male pitch. All transmen are seen pre-hormone prescribing to advise
on likely changes and safe and comfortable voice use during this time.
When hormones commence you will be seen again to advise on voice
stabilisation as appropriate.
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Therapy for transwomen/male to female transsexual
individuals
Hormones have no effect on the voice. Changes in voice can be
achieved through exercises carried out under the guidance of your
Speech and Language Therapist. There are many aspects of the human
voice that make others perceive it as masculine or feminine.
These include:
• Articulation patterns; the way we say certain sounds
• Intonation patterns; the 'tune' of our speech i.e. the ups and
downs.
• Volume; loudness of voice
• Resonance; the tone of the voice
• Pitch; how high or low the voice is
• Communication aspects; timing and non-verbal skills e.g. eye
contact, gesture etc.
The speech and language therapist will carry out a full assessment of
voice and communication and highlight which areas, if any, need to be
adapted. You may already be aware of changes in your voice. The aim
of therapy is to develop a voice that is more compatible with your
chosen gender, bearing in mind the physical limitations of the vocal
tract.
Therapy for non binary individuals
Therapy will be available for individuals to help them understand the
difference between male and female voice and communication skills
Porterbrook Gender Panel
As a member of the Sheffield Gender Panel, the speech and language
therapist will meet regularly with other panel members. Your therapist
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will discuss her comments to the panel with you before the meeting in
order that you are fully aware of her recommendations. Therapy is
extremely flexible and much discussion will take place within
your therapy sessions.
Therapy and discharge
The amount of therapy offered differs from one individual to another.
All voices are different and people learn new skills at different rates.
Some people may have a smooth transition into their chosen gender
whilst others may find voice changes particularly difficult. It is imperative
that you are able to devote time to practise the exercises and skills
suggested in the therapy sessions to maximise the usefulness of therapy.
Discharge from therapy will take place following discussion between
you and your therapist when all specified areas of therapy have been
covered, or when further therapy is not considered helpful at that time.
Please inform the Speech and Language Therapy Department of any
change in address as we keep separate notes from Porterbrook and do
not have access to this information unless you tell us.
Contact details
Speech and Language Therapy Dept, Royal Hallamshire Hospital
• 0114 271 2676 (Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 4.30pm)
If for any reason you are unable to keep an appointment please
let us know as soon as is practicable. If you do not attend and fail
to let us know, no further appointments will be offered.
Alternative formats can be available on request.
Please email: [email protected]
© Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2016
Re-use of all or any part of this document is governed by copyright and the “Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005”
SI 2005 No.1515. Information on re-use can be obtained from the Information Governance Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals.
Email [email protected]
PD6061-PIL2198 v4
Issue Date: August 2016. Review Date: August 2018