How do you feminise your Voice ? It's not all about pitch.

Its not all about pitch

Sometimes the assumption of sounding more feminine is to focus on a higher pitched voice. However, a women’s voice is not only a higher-pitched version of a man’s voice. If we only focus on pitch, it is unlikely that you will be satisfied with the results of your therapy. In order to raise your pitch, we also need to change other aspects of your voice and speech. For natural-sounding speech we need to focus upon your intonation, resonance and other aspects to achieve a natural higher pitch. It’s important that you are able to use a flexible feminine voice that matches your personality and lifestyle, in a variety of situations.

What will happen in Voice Feminisation sessions?

Aside from pitch, we will be focusing upon:

Stress and intonation: Stress is often conveyed by using a higher pitch or louder intensity. Intonation patterns are pitch changes at the sentence level. Subtle differences in intonation patterns might hint at the speakers gender so its important to work on these aspects.

Resonance: Resonance amplifies sound and is often referred as projection in voice. We want to diminish the ‘chest’ sound that is often identified with the male voice.

Articulation: we focus on patterns for vowels and consonants that females produce that can be imitated in MTF voice training.

Volume: We might focus on reducing the loudness of your voice

Therapy is like building blocks – we build your voice together gradually. It takes practice and you will be given bespoke exercises after your sessions. The more you practice, the more natural it will feel.

How much does Voice Feminisation Therapy cost?

If you send us an email we can send your further information about number of sessions required and costs.

We are Clinical Specialists in Voice, Voice Feminisation and Voice Coaching. Feel free to book a free consultation or email us for more information.

Can Voice Feminisation harm my voice?

Can voice feminisation training harm my voice?

If you are thinking about starting voice training or experiencing loss of voice following training, you may have seen this question or peoples experiences of voice loss following training - but what harm can actually be caused by voice training on your own?

There are lots of great resources for people to practice independently on youtube and through apps, but sometimes people experience voice difficulties following training.

Sometimes, by practicing independently, inappropriate voice use may strain or cause tension leading to voice damage known as Muscle Tension Dysphonia.  In some research studies, up to 30% of Male to female Transgender Voice clients had a voice disorder in their initial assessment caused by trauma to the voice box (larynx). Muscle Tension Dysphonia can be caused by excessive effort used when training your voice.

What is Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD)?

Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD) is a change in the sound of your voice due to excessive muscle tension in and around the larynx (voice box). Muscle Tension Dysphonia produces vocal symptoms without any physical damage.

Muscle Tension Dysphonia in voice training can be caused by :

• Excessive elevation of the larynx

• Poor vocal hygiene ( see below ways to improve vocal hygiene)

• Excessive muscle tension in the larynx

• Inappropriate pitch level

• Excessive breathiness also leads to excessive tension in the larynx. 

What are the symptoms of muscle tension dysphonia?

The most common symptoms of muscle tension dysphonia include:

• Voice that sounds hoarse or strained

• Voice becomes weaker and more effort the longer your voice is used.

• Difficulty singing notes that used to be easy.

• Pain or tension in your throat 

• Feeling like there is something in your throat that needs to be cleared. 

If muscle tension dysphonia or hoarseness does not resolve after 3 weeks, it would be best to speak to your GP about a referral to ENT. They will perform an endoscopy (a camera up your nose - it is not painful) to examine your larynx. Voice therapy is the recommended treatment for muscle tension dysphonia.

What can I do to look after my voice whilst voice training?

The best way to prevent harm is to build strong vocal hygiene habits. These support your vocal folds, reduce strain, and help you get the most from your training.

Stop smoking. If you can’t give up, cut down. Smoking irritates and damages the vocal folds.

Try to drink 2 litres (3 ½ pints) of liquid a day (not including coffee, alcohol or fizzy drinks). This will prevent dehydration of the vocal cords.

Avoid too much coffee, fizzy drinks and alcohol. These can dry out the vocal cords. Try drinking decaffeinated tea or coffee or follow an alcoholic drink with a soft drink.

If your voice feels tired or strained then rest it. This is your bodys way of telling you to rest your voice

Try not to clear your throat unnecessarily. It can create excessive mucous and lead to a further need to clear your throat. Try drinking water instead or swallowing.

Try steaming to keep the vocal folds hydrated - just water adding no menthol.

How can a Specialist Speech Therapist in transgender voice training prevent harm?

Working with a Speech and Language Therapist who specialises in transgender voice can make a huge difference.

All our therapists at The Speech Network have expertise in both transgender voice training and voice therapy for Muscle Tension Dysphonia. Through therapy, you will learn how to:

• Raise your pitch safely, using resonance rather than throat tension

• Build breath support and reduce neck strain

• Develop a voice that feels authentic, comfortable, and sustainable

• Build confidence in your voice with positive feedback and bespoke exercises.

Research consistently shows that gender-affirming voice training is safe and effective when guided by an Speech therapist with specialist training improving satisfaction, perceived femininity, overall vocal health and confidence.

Can you do transgender voice training online?

Yes - all our therapists are experienced in providing effective therapy online in the comfort of you own home.

Do you have a waiting list?

No - you can be seeing within one week of your consultation.

Why Choose The Speech Network?

Our UK-based private voice therapists are all Clinical Specialists in Voice, each with a minimum of 12 years’ experience. They currently work, or have previously worked, as Senior Voice Therapists within the NHS. They are active members of the National Trans Voice and Communication Clinical Excellence Network.

All our therapists are fully registered and accredited, including:

• Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)

• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)

• Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP)

• Members of the British Voice Association

Our private voice therapy team is highly rated, with outstanding 5-star Google reviews and recognition as a 2024 Quality Business Award winner.

GOOGLE REVIEWS FOR THE SPEECH NETWORK TEAM FOR TRANSGENDER VOICE TRAINING

*****

‘Having now come to the end of my sessions with Katy I can hand on heart say she has transformed my life. She has enabled me to find my true voice and given me the confidence to truly own it. Katy is such a fun, loving and caring therapist, and every session was a joy, and the exercises were fun and engaging. I owe her so much, and would recommend her in an instant. Thank you Katy!’ Paula

*****

‘Julie and the Speech Network were exactly what I needed.. Julie was wonderfully patient, knowledgable and encouraging’  Sebrina 

*****

'Katy is really nice person who is easy to get along with and you will enjoy speech Therapy with Katy. She is supportive and listens to your needs and concerns. She also listens to your voice and can precisely and constructively pinpoint areas which will benefit from some improvement, you will learn what makes a voice is more complex than you ever imagined. Katy will deconstruct this complexity into simple to digest steps and will coach you very well to bring your voice up to the next level, providing you with the tools, exercises and guidance to assist you. I really appreciate that we can have some light hearted fun at the same time as I'm taking on board the learning activities’ Karen.

Our UK based Private Voice Therapists are Clinical Specialists in Transgender Voice Training, with 5 * google reviews. Book a free 15 minute consultation or email us at thespeechnetwork@hotmail.com to enquire about our reasonable fees for Voice Training.

What can I do to look after my Voice?

• Stop smoking. If you can’t give up, cut down. Smoking irritates and damages the vocal folds. Talk to your GP about advice to support stopping smoking.

• Avoid eating spicy foods. Spicy foods can cause stomach acid to move into the throat or oesophagus, causing heartburn or reflux. If you do experience reflux, talk to your GP about possible medications.

• Avoid too much coffee, fizzy drinks and alcohol. These can dry out the vocal cords. Try drinking decaffeinated tea or coffee or follow an alcoholic drink with a soft drink.

• Avoid shouting and whispering

• If your voice feels tired or strained then rest it. This is your bodys way of telling you to rest your voice

• Try not to clear your throat unnecessarily. It can create excessive mucous and lead to a further need to clear your throat. Try drinking water instead or swallowing.

• Avoid dry and dusty atmospheres as they may dry out the vocal cords. Wear a mask in a dusty environment.

• Try to drink 2 litres (3 ½ pints) of liquid a day (not including coffee, alcohol or fizzy drinks). This will prevent dehydration of the vocal cords.

• Try steaming to keep the vocal folds hydrated

Our Private Voice Therapists are Clinical Specialists in Voice. Book a free 15 minute consultation or email us at thespeechnetwork@hotmail.com to enquire about our reasonable fees for Voice Therapy.