The vocal characteristics of a 63-year-old
individual who underwent male-to-female sex reassignment surgery were
evaluated. Treatment was designed to alter inappropriate male voice
characteristics. Speech goals were to (1) encourage use of successively
higher pitch levels, and (2) modify tongue carriage to change resonance.
After 11 months of therapy, average fundamental frequency for /i, a, u/
vowels changed from 110 to 205 Hz. Also, second formant frequency values
changed remarkably for each of these vowels, with the greatest frequency
change being 291 Hz for /i/. These acoustic differences could account for
the perception of femininity in her posttreatment voice. Maintenance of
these acoustic features was found five years posttreatment.
Citation:
Audiology and Speech Pathology
Service, Kansas City VA Medical Center, MO 64128.
