Remote Voice Treatment with Transgender Individuals: A Health Care Equity Opportunity

Healthcare Disparities in Otolaryngology

“…Transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) individuals have historically been marginalized in society and are vulnerable to healthcare access limitations [ 99 ]. About 27% of TGNB people living in rural areas travel more than 75 miles to access gender affirming medical care [ 100 ]. Travel is a barrier to gender-affirming healthcare needs such as voice therapy that requires frequent sessions.…”

“…Travel is a barrier to gender-affirming healthcare needs such as voice therapy that requires frequent sessions. A 2015 US transgender survey revealed that 46% of transfeminine respondents who want to pursue behavioral voice therapy have not received it yet [ 100 ]. Roblee et al suggested that the use of telehealth may be beneficial in mitigating barriers to voice therapy care, particularly for TGNB people living in rural counties.…”

“…Children with Medicaid and self-pay insurance status are more likely to present to the ED for acute rhinosinusitis, highlighting problems accessing primary care [ 89 , 117 ]. Among pediatric patients with acute bacterial sinusitis, those with Medicaid or no insurance had higher rates of complications compared to those with private insurance [ 100 ].…”

Gender-Affirming Voice Surgery: Considerations for Surgical Intervention

“…This may be especially true if barriers such as travel distance, occupational or childcare restrictions, parking/travel expenses, and lack of local voice-care providers exist. 32 The current literature demonstrates that voice therapy can successfully help individuals achieve a more feminine sounding voice both with and without pitch elevating phonosurgery. The degree to which voice changes immediately following voice therapy is sustained long-term remains unclear.…”