Heather Gross, M.S., CCC-SLP
Gender-affirming voice training helps you access your authentic voice–a voice that aligns with your true gender identity and inner sense of self. Also referred to as transgender voice therapy or transgender voice and communication training, it is a holistic, natural, and nonsurgical intervention to change a person’s voice and style of communicating.
One aspect of gender-affirming voice care is voice masculinization, or making changes to the voice so it presents and sounds more masculine. If you want to deepen or masculinize your speaking or singing voice, voice training can be helpful. Working with a voice therapist, you can explore changing your voice in several ways, including your vocal resonance, intonational patterns (called speech prosody), rate of speech, or speech articulation.
If your voice doesn’t fit who you truly are, you can change it! Gender-affirming voice training has been shown to help people across the entire gender spectrum safely modify their voice to more closely align with their identity. Let’s take a closer look at how it works.
Why explore vocal masculinization?
Voice masculinization is also referred to as FTM (female-to-male) voice training. However, people across the gender spectrum may choose to explore deepening or masculinizing their voice.
Many people seek FTM voice training or masculinization to match their voice with their authentic gender identity and expression. But it’s important to note that each person has a unique set of reasons for seeking vocal masculinization. Some want to masculinize their voice for safety reasons. Some may need vocal masculinization for professional or performance needs. Other people may be focused on supporting their mental health and well-being.
Do I need voice masculinization if I’m already taking testosterone?
You can deepen or change your voice without taking testosterone. However, many people do choose hormone replacement therapy. Research shows the largest drop in fundamental frequency, or pitch, during the first two to five months of hormone replacement therapy. Since the onset and duration of voice deepening varies considerably, and testosterone has an impact only on pitch, masculine-presenting individuals may want to change their voice further.
People across the entire gender spectrum may choose to explore deepening or masculinizing their voice.
For example, some people taking testosterone may be content with their new pitch, but continue to feel misaligned with the quality of their voice. In voice therapy, they can explore various areas of voice and communication, such as deepening their resonance, rounding their vowels, and changing their intonation, volume, and/or articulation.
Singers may seek the care of a singing voice specialist to help them maintain aspects of their voice or learn to use their voice as their range and vocal registers shift on testosterone.
What does therapy for voice masculinization involve?
A whole-person, holistic view of the voice is highly recommended when exploring your authentic voice. Transgender voice therapy should take place with an experienced speech therapist who specializes in this therapy, in an affirming environment, with great sensitivity and care.
The following areas are commonly targeted in voice masculinization or FTM voice training:
Pitch: How high or low your voice sounds
Intonation: The rise and fall of pitch in speech
Resonance: The quality of the sound your voice makes
Articulation: The way your teeth, tongue, and lips come together to create sounds
Volume: The loudness of your voice
Rate of speech: How rapidly or slowly you speak
Nonverbal vocalizations: Sounds you produce that aren’t speech, such as coughing, laughing, throat clearing, or sighing
In the area of nonverbal communication, your speech therapist can help you with:
Kinesics: Related to body movements and gestures
Proxemics: How close you stand with your communication partner during a conversation
Facial expressions
Social pragmatics: Refers to elements of social interaction such as greetings, eye contact, staying on topic, etc.
These are all areas that can be explored in transgender voice therapy. But remember, the goals in voice training are driven by you, the client.
How do I change my voice to sound more masculine?
Your therapist will help you explore what you perceive to be masculine voice and communication. We each have different views on what masculine communication looks and sounds like! Gender-affirming voice therapy is about finding a voice that reflects your inner truth.
In voice training, it may be helpful to explore “stereotypical” masculine voice and speech patterns, including:
Lowering your average speaking pitch
Increasing your volume on certain words versus varying your pitch
Emphasizing “darker” speech sounds, such as /b/, /d/, /g/, and /r/
Modifying your vocal tract to amplify lower frequencies for a “darker” sounding tone
Speaking with your mouth in a rounded “oh” vowel shape for a warmer, darker tone
Keep in mind that these speech patterns are based on stereotypes and sociological research. They may help guide your voice masculinization goals. However, we recommend creating your goals based on what feels good for you, not on societal expectations!
How long does it take to masculinize your voice?
Gender-affirming voice therapy is highly individualized. The length of gender-affirming voice therapy is driven by you and your satisfaction with your voice. Typically, people undergo voice therapy for 3 to 6 months.
It’s our hope that by the end of your voice journey, you will feel more confident and connected to your voice. The goal is to be able to use your authentic voice wherever and with whomever you choose.
Have more questions? Schedule a free consultation call with one of our specialists. We’d be happy to talk with you about voice therapy and discuss next steps!
