Laura Adams, MS, CCC-SLP
I don’t know. I am truly sorry that I don’t know. I don’t know what it is like to have my gender identity not align with what my body was assigned at birth. I know that I am a cisgender woman. I know that I grew up in the 70s when stereotypes were changing. I was allowed to play with cars and cranes and dump trucks. I could dress in t-shirts and jeans every day and ride my 3-speed Schwinn down “Devil’s Playground” with the boys. I loved dresses and had tea parties with my dolls too. I know that I never had the (frustrating? confusing? terrifying?) experience of questioning whether or not I was a girl. I know I can’t use my own life experience to know what it feels like to be misgendered by hearing someone use the incorrect pronoun for me. Working with the trans community has humbled me more than I have ever been before. I can try to understand. I can offer expertise from my journey into learning all that I can about gender affirming voice and communication training (GAVCT) through the lens of cultural humility. But, I will never truly know.
In graduate school, had an amazing voice professor, Dr. Agin. She taught us, above all, to research what we don’t know. That is what our profession expects. So that is what I did. And still do.
This is what I know right now. This may change as research, terms, and the ever changing experiences that my clients graciously teach me evolve.
I know that:
- The voice (postural muscle positions) can change. I cannot promise that it will.
- There are ways to change the voice that are vocally safer than others. We monitor this closely and if necessary, will recommend other professionals to the team to see that the vocal mechanism is healthy (if needed by insurance or if chronic vocal hoarseness is present).
- Research shows that the top three factors that impact the perceived gender attributions of others are: pitch (how high and low the voice is), resonance (how the air “bounces” around the mouth and throat), and intonation (vocal melody).
- Research shows weaker evidence in the following factors, but clients may still have personal goals around: loudness, breathiness, articulation, vowel duration, language style, non-verbal language (body language).
- The ethics and standards of ASHA (The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association), WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health), and evidence based practice (research, experience and client perspectives/values) guide what I do.
- I don’t “prescribe treatment.” Rather, I work with clients together to find the best vocal fit. I can provide feedback based on what I hear, but a client’s self-perception, experience and personal goals are the focus of sessions.
- I will continually learn and adjust what I know.
- I am thankful for every client who has trusted me and allowed me to learn from them.
- There is always more to know.
- I will admit to what I don’t know.