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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

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01-04-2017 | Miscellaneous

Voice feminization in male-to-female transgendered clients after Wendler’s glottoplasty with vs. without voice therapy support

Authors: Juan C. Casado, María J. Rodríguez-Parra, José A. Adrián

Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology | Issue 4/2017

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the medium-term results of Wendler’s glottoplasty surgery (WG) and the effects of post-operative voice therapy in a group of male-to-female transsexuals. This is a retrospective study of 18 transsexuals who voluntarily underwent WG between 2010 and 2014 at a single hospital. Ten of the subjects underwent an additional voice therapy training. The group was assessed pre- vs. post-treatments with a limited battery of measures consisting of fundamental frequency (Fo), maximum phonation time, the TSEQ transgender self-assessment questionnaire, and perceptual assessment of the voice (Visual Analog Scale and a simplified version of the classical Hirano-GRBAS scale) by inter-rater agreement. The surgical procedure consisted of a de-epithelialization of the anterior third of both vocal folds; this area was sutured, and the surface of both vocal folds was vaporized with a laser diode. The results showed a significant increase in vocal tone and feminization of voice in all participants, including a significant increase in Fo 12 months after treatment. Significant improvements were also shown in other evaluated measures, such as self-reported satisfaction and the degree of feminization of the voice. However, no improvements in maximum phonation time were observed. The use of voice therapy appears decisive for optimal improvement of this class of patients. WG applied appropriately by well-trained hands is thus a very effective and less traumatic procedure than other techniques that aim for an acceptable feminization of the voice in MtoF transgendered clients.

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Title: Voice feminization in male-to-female transgendered clients after Wendler’s glottoplasty with vs. without voice therapy support
Authors: Juan C. Casado
María J. Rodríguez-Parra
José A. Adrián
Publication date: 01-04-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology / Issue 4/2017
Print ISSN: 0937-4477
Electronic ISSN: 1434-4726
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-016-4420-8

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Voice feminization in male-to-female transgendered clients after Wendler’s glottoplasty with vs. without voice therapy support

Abstract

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