Speech and Hearing; Linguistics and Language; Developmental and Educational Psychology; Otorhinolaryngology
Abstract :
[en] Purpose:
This study measured and compared the acoustic short-term effects of pitch elevation training (PET) and articulation-resonance training (ART) and the combination of both programs, in transgender women.
Method:
A randomized controlled study with cross-over design was used. Thirty transgender women were included and received 14 weeks of speech training. All participants started with 4 weeks of sham training; after which they were randomly assigned to one of two groups: One group continued with PET (5 weeks), followed by ART (5 weeks); the second group received both trainings in opposite order. Participants were recorded 4 times, in between the training blocks: pre, post 1 (after sham), post 2 (after training 1), and post 3 (after training 2). Speech samples included a sustained vowel, continuous speech during reading, and spontaneous speech and were analyzed using Praat software. Fundamental frequency (
f
o
), intensity, voice range profile, vowel formant frequencies (
F
1–2–3–4–5
of /a/−/i/−/u/), formant contrasts, vowel space, and vocal quality (Acoustic Voice Quality Index) were determined.
Results and Conclusions:
Fundamental frequencies increased after both the PET and ART program, with a higher increase after PET. The combination of both interventions showed a mean increase of the
f
o
of 49 Hz during a sustained vowel, 49 Hz during reading, and 29 Hz during spontaneous speech. However, the lower limit (percentile 5) of the
f
o
during spontaneous speech did not change. Higher values were detected for
F
1–2
of /a/,
F
3
of /u/, and vowel space after PET and ART separately.
F
1–2–3
of /a/,
F
1–3–4
of /u/, vowel space, and formant contrasts increased after the combination of PET and ART; hence, the combination induced more increases in formant frequencies. Intensity and voice quality measurements did not change. No order effect was detected; that is, starting with PET or ART did not change the outcome.
Disciplines :
Otolaryngology
Author, co-author :
Leyns, Clara ; Center for Speech and Language Sciences (CESLAS), Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
Daelman, Julie; Center for Speech and Language Sciences (CESLAS), Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
Adriaansen, Anke; Center for Speech and Language Sciences (CESLAS), Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
Tomassen, Peter; Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
Morsomme, Dominique ; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Liège - CHU > > Service d'ORL, d'audiophonologie et de chir. cervico-faciale
T'Sjoen, Guy; Department of Endocrinology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium ; Center for Sexology and Gender, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
D'haeseleer, Evelien; Center for Speech and Language Sciences (CESLAS), Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium ; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium
Language :
English
Title :
Short-Term Acoustic Effects of Speech Therapy in Transgender Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
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