Perceived Gender and Client Satisfaction in Transgender Voice Work: Comparing Self and Listener Rating Scales across a Training Program

Abstract

Background/Aim: Scales used to collect perceptual ratings related to a speaker’s gender are widely used in gender affirming voice training for trans individuals. Such scales may be used as outcome measures to gain insight into whether training has helped clients meet personal goals related to gender expression. These scales are also widely used in general research investigating the relationship between vocal characteristics and perceptions of speaker gender. However, past studies in these areas have varied in the terminology used to label rating scales and the impact of this variation is currently unknown. Additionally, research has not yet fully explored the relationship between self- and listener ratings of trans participant voices and trans participant satisfaction with voice, and whether or not these relationships change after trans participants undertake gender affirming voice training. This research paper aimed to explore these relationships and address these research gaps. Methods: A group of 34 trans participants were asked to rate their voices before and after participating in gender affirming voice training. Trans participant voice samples from before and after training were also presented to a group of 25 listeners for rating. Perceptual ratings were made on two visual analogue scales (VAS) with anchors “very feminine/very masculine” and “very female/very male.” Trans participants also rated their satisfaction with their current voice on a VAS with anchors “very satisfied/very unsatisfied.” Correlation coefficients were calculated to investigate the relationship between collected ratings. Results: Differences in scale labels were found to have minimal impact on ratings made by both trans participants and listeners. Trans participant self-ratings were found to correlate with listener ratings, but this correlation was not strong. Trans participant self-ratings had a consistently stronger relationship with their self-rated vocal satisfaction. The study contributed new findings that these differences may be more pronounced after trans participants have completed voice training. Discussion/Conclusion: This study suggests that results from past studies that have used differently labelled scales to collect ratings related to gender perception based on voice are suitable to compare. This study also discusses the implications reported differences between trans participant self-ratings and listener ratings may have for research and clinical practice.