Poll: Voice work

[Devlyn ✅]

I thought it might be interesting to get a baseline on this subject. I didn't add options other than yes or no, you can explain your approach below if you like.

I have done nothing about my voice. I had no desire to start talking differently after fifty plus years of absolutely crushing a Boston accent. 😁

Frequently I will be gendered female in an encounter, then as male after I say something. That doesn't bother me, I'm not concerned if people know I'm transgender.

Let's get voting and see how the overall community feels about this! 🙂

Hugs, Devlyn

[CosmicJoke]

I had no "voice drop" during puberty but I said yes because men and women do talk differently.

[Stottie Girl]

Not yet but I intend to start soon. It is very important to me to try me best to achieve a passable voice due to needing to answer calls at work.

I will maybe start with free help guides and if I get nowhere I will go to see a voice coach.

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

My 'old' voice was moderately deep. I was frequently misgendered on the phone, and it was very discouraging. Initially, I attempted to simply raise my pitch. While that helped, there are many more aspects to consider. After we moved to Arkansas, I began having trouble with the muscles in my neck and throat. I expect it was caused by anxiety, and the fear of being 'outed'. Eventually, I joined a speech therapy class at a state university. I learned about pitch, resonance, intonation, breathing, and many other aspects of the human voice. I was able to integrate several of the lessons to make noticeable changes to my voice. There are other lessons I want to integrate, but I often forget to practice them.

Voice training can often result in significant changes to your speaking voice, but it takes time and dedication. While it may take time, if you never start, you'll never finish.

Love always -- Jessica Rose

[tgirlamg]

Hey Devlyn!

I tried vocal coaching with several folks but it wasn't coming together for me and I still got misgendered on the phone... I didn't like feeling that I had to do all these tricks just to speak... I wanted my voice to just be... my voice! I did VFS in 2017 and glad that I did but, recovery was rough... took a couple years to smooth out and lost vocal power... it can be harder to make myself heard in very loud environments etc but, I don't have to think about my voice anymore... what comes out naturally gets gendered correctly on the phone etc... 🤗

Onward!

A💕

[Lori Dee ✅]

I spent a lot of time on YouTube (TransVoiceLessons) trying the various exercises. I learned a lot, but had no one to provide me with feedback. At that time, the VA said they could provide Voice Therapy. My doctor submitted the request, and it was denied, stating the voice pathologist wouldn't/couldn't do it. Several months later, the local VA LGBTQ Care Coordinator told us about a new program for voice coaching. She submitted the request for me, and it was approved.

The sessions were via telehealth video sessions with a voice therapist in Iowa (I was in South Dakota). I learned a lot from her, and she was able to listen and watch me speak, so she could tell what I was doing and how I was doing it. I spent six months with her, then the oppressive regime canceled my therapy coverage, reassigned our LGBTQ Care Coordinator, and shut down our LGBTQ Support Group.

My voice is far from perfect. It has changed a lot from what it was, but I still get misgendered on the phone. Like Ashley, I don't want to have to think about how I am speaking when I'm just trying to say something. When I am dressed en-femme, my voice doesn't seem to factor into people's impressions, so I haven't done much work on it. When I am on the phone, I still try to change it, but it doesn't seem to matter because they can't see me and misgender me anyway. I have gotten to the point where I don't care anymore. People can think what they want.

[Stottie Girl]

Hey Devlyn!

I tried vocal coaching with several folks but it wasn't coming together for me and I still got misgendered on the phone... I didn't like feeling that I had to do all these tricks just to speak... I wanted my voice to just be... my voice! I did VFS in 2017 and glad that I did but, recovery was rough... took a couple years to smooth out and lost vocal power... it can be harder to make myself heard in very loud environments etc but, I don't have to think about my voice anymore... what comes out naturally gets gendered correctly on the phone etc... 🤗

Onward!

A💕

I think I could take being quieter. I hardly ever raise my voice anyway. and I tend to avoid noisy places whenever possible. Vocal surgery is something I would consider but only as a last resort. I have seen so many examples of passable voices that I have confidence I can do it au naturelle so to speak.

You look amazing in your latest avatar picture Ashley! Love the hair.

[Athena]

Apparently I am far less confident in my passing then I should be. I was on the phone yesterday and I mentioned to the lady that I was trans and hoped to eventually be able to afford voice surgery and she said that I didn't need it and that I sounded cis to her. I also generally get gendered properly even on the phone.

I am very concerned about my resonance as I don't really adjust that but apparently I am naturally in the female range and just need to adjust my pitch though even with my normal voice I was told that I pass as cis. Though this was at GRS Montreal so I think that they were just being supportive but on my last cruise presenting as male I had this lady ask my gender after talking with her for a bit.

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Currently fighting that fight and doing the work. Else I'll never be read as a woman out there and that scares me.