How Speech Pathology can support Transgender communities

By Aislinn Tiexera - Speech Pathologist

Our voice and how we use it is often considered as one of the key ways that we communicate to the world who we are. Communication is part of who we are, how we represent ourselves, and what we reveal about ourselves to the word. As speech pathologists we’re specially trained to support people to access and align communication in ways that support them to be a part of the community and their world.

For our friends who identify as being a part of the transgender community, we understand that at varied stages across your transition you may not feel like your voice and communication represents who you know you are. As a speech pathologist we want to be able to help you find the voice, the gestures, the communication styles that represent who you are. This aspect of speech pathology is where Gender Affirming Voice and Communication Training (also known as Transgender Voice and Communication Training) comes in. 

Who is able to engage in Gender Affirming Voice and Communication Training?

Anyone who doesn’t feel as though their voice and communication style represents them in their identified gender, regardless of what stage of transition you are presently in. 

What is involved in Gender Affirming Voice and Communication Training?

Ways that we support overall voice and communication training includes:

• supporting how to use and adapt your voice in a healthy way to best represent who you are. This includes supporting changes in your voice’ tone, volume, and vocal qualities to what is desired. 

• support in adapting language and pragmatics (how we use words) to how you are most comfortable 

• non-verbal communication to best help a person communicate using body language and gesture in a way that aligns with who they are. 

What can you expect at the start? 

One of the most important things to us is making sure that what we’re working on with you aligns with what your goals are and will be designed specifically with those in mind. 

As a part of this we start with working with you on:

• Vocal and communication models – what sort of vocal qualities do you find appealing and would you like to have elements of?

• Understand what your voice and communication mean to you and your everyday life. 

• Vocal evaluation – to help us know where your voice is now and help us design therapy to work towards where you want to be

• Identifying your goals – this is about you and we want to ensure what we’re doing aligns with the best representation of who you are. 

Supporting you with vocal hygiene to ensure throughout this entire process and beyond we’re keeping your voice healthy and strong!