The Relationship Between Vocal Effort and Vocal Gender Congruence

Authors: Maya Sharon, Karolina Lata

Field of Study: Human Development

Program Affiliation: The Houle Lab

Faculty Mentors: Nichole Houle

Easel: 24

Timeslot: Morning

Abstract: Gender-affirming voice therapy (GAVT) aims to increase vocal gender congruence, the alignment of one’s voice and their gender expression. The effort required to produce a gender-congruent voice may vary, but vocal gender congruence has not been studied in relation to vocal effort. To investigate their relationship, 26 transgender and gender-expansive (TGE) individuals completed a traditional vocal effort experiment. Self-perceptual ratings of vocal effort and vocal gender congruence were collected before and after reading aloud for 30 minutes at a loud volume. A linear mixed effects regression model will be conducted to investigate the relationship between vocal effort and vocal gender congruence. Regardless of the relationship, the findings will be clinically significant. A significant relationship would support GAVT addressing vocal endurance, particularly in vocally taxing situations. A lack of a significant relationship would indicate the relevance of non-voice production factors (e.g., confidence) that influence vocal gender congruence.