In the current year of 2023, the UCLA Williams Institute estimates that 1.3 million adults identify as transgender in the United States. That’s roughly 0.5% of the population! The findings also showed that 11% of LGBTQ+ adults identify as non-binary. View the full data reports here and here.
When transgender or nonbinary individuals enroll in speech therapy, such as at Blue Ridge Speech & Voice, they receive one-on-one professional coaching to help align their voice with their gender. This helps them feel validated and confident in themselves - and may also be life-saving.
Transgender Voice Therapy: A Choice For You to Make
If you’re thinking about transgender voice therapy, know that it’s a choice that’s entirely up to you. There isn't just one way for any specific gender to sound- however you choose to sound is valid.
However, the majority of transgender people seek to modify their voice to help with both internal and external perceptions of their gender.
Because vocal cords have so much variation based on factors such as body size and which hormones are produced during puberty, pitch inherently differs from person to person. For some, this can cause stress and anxiety, and may also lead to outside misgendering- or referring to someone in a way that does not correctly or accurately reflect their gender identity.
Additionally, transgender voice therapy is a good alternative to those who haven’t started hormone replacement therapy (HRT) yet. Or those who wish not to utilize HRT - again, there is no right or wrong way to express your gender.
While Blue Ridge Speech & Voice specializes in speech therapy for adults, gender affirming voice therapy can also help transgender or non-binary youth. It’s a great first step to embrace your authentic self.
What Do You Work on in Transgender Voice Therapy?
Here are some of the basic things you’ll work on in transgender voice therapy:
Vocal Weight
Resonance
Cadence
Inflection
Articulation
Pitch (Read more about gender-affirming voice work and pitch in our blog here.)
The Importance of Credibility
While the Internet and social media can be helpful, it can also lead to misinformation. It’s important to receive guidance from a certified speech language pathologist. When choosing your speech therapist, be sure to examine their education, credentials, and experience.
One notable accolade to look for is a certification from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). The benefits of an ASHA certification verifies that the speech language professional has:
A master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited academic program.
A clinical experience supervised by an ASHA certified professional.
A passing score on the national examination.
Both Emily and Erin are ASHA certified licensed speech therapists at Blue Ridge Speech & Voice Therapy. Read more about them and their qualifications here.
Feel free to call 828-222-3824 or send an email to info@blueridgespeechandvoice.com to speak with them directly and begin your speech therapy journey!
Start Speech Therapy Today
Transgender voice therapy is also referred to as gender affirming voice therapy for a reason. Speech therapy is absolutely a form of gender affirming care, and serves to support the transgender and nonbinary communities.
Visit our page to learn more about gender affirming voice therapy at Blue Ridge Speech & Voice. You’ll be able to listen to audio samples of before and after clients to see the transformative difference speech therapy can make.
Our last blog, “5 Ways Speech Therapy Can Help Achieve Your Desired Voice as a Trans or Non Binary Person” is a great supplemental resource for this blog. Click here to give it a read!
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