An Examination of Vocal Tract Acoustics following Wendler’s Glottoplasty

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the formant frequency (FF) features of transgender females’ (TFs) voice after Wendler’s glottoplasty surgery and compare these levels with age-matched healthy males and females. Study Design: Controlled prospective. Methods: 20 TFs and 20 genetically male and female age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The fundamental frequency (F0) and FFs F1–F4 were obtained from TF speakers 6 months after surgery. These levels were compared with those of healthy controls. Results: Statistical analysis showed that the median F0 values were similar between TFs and females. The median F1 levels of TFs were different from females but similar to males. The F2 levels of TFs were similar to females but different from males. The F3 and F4 levels were significantly different from both male and female controls. Conclusion: Wendler’s glottoplasty technique is an effective method to increase F0 levels among TF patients; however, these individuals report their voice does not sufficiently project femininity. The results obtained with regard to FF levels may be the reason for this problem. Voice therapy is recommended as a possible approach to assist TF patients achieve a satisfactory feminine voice.

Voice Outcome of Glottoplasty in Trans Women

“…Their scores increased progressively and were slightly lower compared to the mean scores of the listening panel. In the study of Paltura et al [35], individuals reported that their voice did not sufficiently project femininity after glottoplasty. The authors recommended voice therapy as a possible approach to achieve a satisfactory feminine voice.…”

Acoustic and Perceptual Effects of Articulation Exercises in Transgender Women

“…One exercise for one technique such as lip spreading and the cork exercise during this study might not be sufficient to detect substantial differences in these acoustic data. In contrast to Paltura and Yelken [83], the current study extracted the vowels from running speech, rather than performing acoustic analyses on isolated vowels.…”

Current state of the problem of voice correction, taking into account potential complications (literature review)

“…Показанием для НГ являются андрофония у женщин при эндокринопатиях и побочных эффектах при приеме гормональных препаратов, а также паралич перстнещитовидной мышцы, при последнем дополнительно используют медиализацию голосовой складки. Сужение динамического диапазона рассматривается как желаемый эффект при НЛ, так как слабый голос ассоциируется с женским [9][10][11].…”

“…Большинство авторов рекомендуют голосовую терапию с целью достижения удовлетворительного звучания в женском диапазоне [9,36], некоторые считают ее даже обязательной в виде «сэндвич терапии» -до и после хирургического лечения -с целью улучшения качества и характеристик женского голоса [12]. К сожалению, немногие исследователи подробно описали этапы голосовой терапии, хотя и указали на положительную динамику.…”