The association between subjective and objective masculine vocal quality in hormone-naïve trans-male individuals

Year 2019, Volume: 9 Issue: 3, 219 - 226, 20.12.2019

Seher Sirin , Aslıhan Polat

https://doi.org/10.32448/entupdates.638475

Abstract

Objective: The
aim of this study is to investigate the association between subjective and
objective masculine vocal quality in hormone-naïve trans-male individuals.

Methods: Twenty-seven hormone-naïve trans-male
individuals were recruited for the study. All the study participants had
applied to undergo the gender transition process and been referred to the Voice
Clinic. The Self-Perception of Voice Masculinity (SPVM) scale and the mean fundamental
frequency (F0) were used to assess any association between subjective and
objective vocal masculinity.

Results: The mean age of study participants was
25.3 years. The median F0 lay within the normal limits for cisgender females.
However, in 12 out of 27 cases, F0 lay within the gender-ambiguous frequency
range. SPVM scores were higher in this ambiguous group, a result with a strong
tendency toward statistical significance (p=0.053). A moderate negative correlation between
SPVM and F0 scores was observed (r=-0.484, p=0.027). 
The smoking frequency was high, with 77.8% of
individuals in the group as a whole being smokers. Not only were F0 values of
smokers lower than those of non-smokers, but their SPVM scores were also
higher.

Conclusion: The findings from this study indicate that
diversity in objective and subjective voice parameters exists even within the
hormone naïve period. There appear to be several factors which influence F0 to
a significant extent. Accordingly, a more comprehensive approach is called for
when assessing transgender voice at all stages of the gender-affirming medical
treatment process. The high frequency of smoking amongst the trans-male
population should also be noted as it constitutes a serious health hazard.

Keywords

Transgenders, voice, masculinity, smoking behaviour, voice quality

Supporting Institution

No financial support was received for this paper.

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