Search

Purpose: Although speech-language pathologists have provided genderaffirming voice training for trans women since the 1970s, evidence for this training’s effectiveness remains weak. Our study aimed to redress limitations of earlier studies and evaluate voice training effects on outcomes important to trans women. Method: Seventy-four trans women (19–54 years old) who wanted a more female-sounding voice were recruited through two health facilities and provided with an eight- to 12-session voice training program based on contemporary literature, usual clinical practice, and client-centered care principles. Self-reported outcomes and an audio-recorded reading sample were collected 3 months before, immediately before and after, and 3 months after training. Forty cisgender speakers were audio-recorded reading the same sample material as comparison voices. Seventy-nine naive listeners made gender-related voice ratings of an extract from these audio recordings. Training effectiveness was evaluated using group-level analyses (linear mixed-effects models) and individual-level analyses to establish what proportion of participants improved to a predetermined relevant degree. Results: Group-level analyses demonstrated positive training effects, maintained 3 months posttraining, for trans women’s vocal satisfaction, perceptions of voice-related social participation, and self- and listener perceptions of their voices. Individual-level analyses also demonstrated positive effects. Two thirds of trans women increased vocal satisfaction to a relevant degree, one third who reported restricted social participation before training reduced this restriction to a relevant degree, and all were rated more female-sounding after training (although not all to a relevant degree). Conclusions: All trans women participants made progress toward their voice goals and maintained those gains at follow-up. These findings provide evidence that gender-affirming speech-language pathology services warrant prioritization. Further research is warranted to investigate factors predicting outcomes of voice training for trans women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction to a special double issue is presented, which focuses upon the specialized needs of the adolescent population on the 20th anniversary of the passage of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, designated as the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP, commonly referred to as “Chafee”), which deals with teens transitioning from foster care.

Objective: This investigation comprehensively assessed the technology use, preferences, and capacity of diverse injured trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.Method: A total of 121 patients participating in a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of stepped collaborative care targeting PTSD symptoms were administered baseline one-, three-, and six-month interviews that assessed technology use. Longitudinal data about the instability of patient cell phone ownership and phone numbers were collected from follow-up interviews. PTSD symptoms were also assessed over the course of the six months after injury. Regression analyses explored the associations between cell phone instability and PTSD symptoms.Results: At baseline, 71.9% (n = 87) of patients reported current cell phone ownership, and over half (58.2%,n = 46) of these patients possessed basic cell phones. Only 19.0% (n = 23) of patients had no change in cell phone number or physical phone over the course of the six months postinjury. In regression models that adjusted for relevant clinical and demographic characteristics, cell phone instability was associated with higher six-month postinjury PTSD symptom levels (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Diverse injured patients at risk for the development of PTSD have unique technology use patterns, including high rates of cell phone instability. These observations should be strongly considered when developing technology-supported interventions for injured patients with PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]