Table 4.
Studies investigating voice-related quality of life in transgender people (n = 4)
| Authors (year) Country |
Number of Trans participants, mean age at assessment | Treatment status | Study design | Comparative groups, follow-up | Outcome measures | Results | Factors associated | Conclusions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hancock et al. (2011) [30] USA |
20 TW 48.8 yrs |
Post-VFT 100% Post-GAGS 45% |
Single centre Clinical group Cross-sectional |
CG1 Speakers: 5 cis women (46.8 yrs) 5 cis men (40.8 yrs); CG2 Listeners: 12 cis men (18.8 yrs) 13 cis women (19.65 yrs) (No follow-up) |
TSEQ | Self-ratings: Femininity = 529 Likability = 552 Listener ratings: Femininity = 493 Likability = 533 |
None studied | For TW vQoL moderately correlated with how others perceive their voice. vQoL correlated more strongly with speaker’s perception of voice compared with others’ perceptions |
| Hancock (2016) [24] USA |
81 TW 43 yrs |
VFT 46% | Clinical and non-clinical group Cross-sectional |
Online vs. paper Completed VHI vs. completed VHI + TSEQ (No follow-up) |
VHI TSEQ |
General: VHI = 37.5 TSEQ = 76.5 VHI + TSEQ: VHI = 37.6 TSEQ = 76.5 |
-vQoL: Increased age Femininity of voice |
TW reported a wide range of vQoL; some individuals are severely affected by their voices whilst others are not. |
| Meister et al. (2017) [31] Germany |
T0 21 TW 42.1 yrs. T1 18 TW 46 yrs |
T0 = Pre-VFT 100% T1 = Post-VFT 100% |
Single centre Clinical group Prospective longitudinal with cross-sectional data regarding VHI |
T0 vs T1 German control group |
VHI | VHImean = 32.29 | None studied | Despite the elevation of vocal pitch, elevated VHI scores indicate transwomen feel handicapped in everyday life because of their voice |
| T’Sjoen et al. (2006) [83] Belgium |
28 TW 20 TM 33 yrs. TW 49 yrs. TM |
GAGS 100% CHT 100% |
Single centre Clinical group Cross-sectional |
TW vs. TM (No follow-up) |
VHI | TM: Total = 4(0–10) (F = 1, E = 0, P = 3, Phone = 0) TW: Total = 12 (6–31) (F = 1, E = 2, P = 6, Phone = 2) |
TM + vQoL: Lower DHT Higher LH |
Better vQoL for both TW and TM above the cut-off for disability, meaning that they do experience voice-related disability |
CG Control Group, CHT Cross-sex Hormonal Treatment, Cis Cisgender, DHT Dihydrotestosterone, E Emotional, F Functional, FFS Face Feminisation Surgery, GAGS Gender Confirming Genital Surgery, LH Luteinizing Hormone, P Physical, TM Transgender men, TW Transgender women, VFT Voice Feminisation Treatment