The Power of Voice: The Role of Target Voice Achievement in Enhancing Quality of Life for Transgender Individuals in Gender-Affirming Voice Management Lab, El Paso, Texas, 2016–2022
Abstract
Background: Gender-affirming voice management is an essential aspect of transgender people and research shows that achieving a congruent voice can significantly improve the quality of life. The role of voice as a central aspect of gender identity and expression and achieving a desired target voice can improve mental health outcomes, social functioning, and overall well-being. Purpose: The project assesses the impact of quality of life and voice treatment completion on voice disorders among transgender people. Methods: This clinical study included records for transgender individuals attending the Gender-Affirming Voice Management Lab in El Paso, TX, from 2016 to 2022. Measures collected included sociodemographic characteristics, Voice Handicap Index (VHI) for voice disorders, and Transgender Self Evaluation Questionnaire (TSEQ) scores for quality of life. Results: The study included 33 transgender participants with a diverse range of sociodemographic characteristics and treatment experiences. The median (Q1, Q3) age was 27.5 (22.3, 35.0). The majority (88.2%) were transgender women and 58.8% self-identified as Hispanic/Latinx. Voice feminization (82.4%) or masculinization (11.8%) was the leading cause for seeking therapy. Median TSEQ scores were statistically significantly lower for those who completed treatment or were discharged compared to those who did not (84.0 (68.5, 99.5) vs. 114.0 (91.5, 126.8); p-value=0.038) and for those with mild VHI compared to those with moderate/severe VHI (86.0 (84.0, 99.5) vs. 114.0 (102.0, 125.0); p-value=0.045). Conclusions: Findings emphasize the critical need to improve access to gender-affirming voice services and offer comprehensive support to enhance the overall well-being and quality of life for transgender individuals undergoing their voice journey, providing practical guidance for speech-language clinicians to assist them in meeting their voice goals. Recommendations: Gender-affirming voice care should be integrated into primary care for transgender people. Further research in the gender-affirming voice management field to assess barriers to treatment completion.
Subject Area
Public health|Mental health|Gender studies|Biostatistics
Recommended Citation
Hridi, Mehjabin Alam, "The Power of Voice: The Role of Target Voice Achievement in Enhancing Quality of Life for Transgender Individuals in Gender-Affirming Voice Management Lab, El Paso, Texas, 2016–2022" (2023). ETD Collection for University of Texas, El Paso. AAI30819589.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/dissertations/AAI30819589