Examining the voice of Israeli transgender women: Acoustic measures, voice femininity and voice-related quality-of-life

• Published in: International journal of transgender health Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 281 - 293
• Main Authors: Diamant, Noa, Amir, Ofer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Ltd 2021; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Acoustics; Femininity; Perceptions; Self evaluation; Transgender persons; TVQMtF; acoustic analysis; Hebrew; transgender; voice therapy; women
• ISSN: 2689-5269; 2689-5277
• DOI: 10.1080/26895269.2020.1798838

Transgender women may experience gender-dysphoria associated with their voice and the way it is perceived. Previous studies have shown that specific acoustic measures are associated with the perception of voice-femininity and with voice-related quality-of-life, yet results are inconsistent. This study aimed to examine the associations between specific voice measures of transgender women, voice-related quality-of-life, and the perception of voice-femininity by listeners and by the speakers themselves. Thirty Hebrew speaking transgender women were recorded. They had also rated their voice-femininity and completed the Hebrew version of the TVQ questionnaire. Recordings were analyzed to extract mean fundamental frequency (F0), formant frequencies (F1, F2, F3), and vocal-range (calculated in Hz. and in semitones). Recordings were also rated on a voice-gender 7-point scale, by 20 naïve cisgender listeners. Significant correlations were found between both F0 and F1 and listeners' as well as speakers' evaluation of voice-femininity. TVQ scores were significantly correlated with F0 and with the lower and upper boundaries of the vocal-range. Voice-femininity ratings were strongly correlated with vocal-range, when calculated in Hz, but not when defined in semitones. Listeners' evaluation and speakers' self-evaluation of voice-femininity were significantly correlated. However, TVQ scores were significantly correlated only with the speakers' voice-femininity ratings, but not with those of the listeners. Higher F0 and F1, which are perceived as more feminine, jointly improved speakers' satisfaction with their voice. Speakers' self-evaluation of voice-femininity does not mirror listeners' judgment, as it is affected by additional factors, related to self-satisfaction and personal experience. Combining listeners' and speakers' voice evaluation with acoustic analysis is valuable by providing a more holistic view on how transgender women feel about their voice and how it is perceived by listeners.