Voice surgery in addition to voice therapy? A study of pitch-raising in transsexual women.

Christina Askman

In order to feminize voice in male-to-female transsexuals either voice surgery, voice therapy or the combination of both are used. As yet, no consensus exists, whether phonosurgery would guarantee a permanent raised pitch.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of phonosurgery with anterior web formation of the vocal folds in order to create a permanent female pitch. 16 transsexual women received voice therapy. 10 of them succeeded in finding a voice pitch which they found adequate. The remaining 6 underwent anterior web surgery, which contributed to elevated pitch. However none of the 6 maintained a female pitch on follow-up whereas 9 out of 10 of those who had received voice therapy only, kept their feminine pitch.
We may conclude that anterior web formation surgery is not efficient.

Christina Askman,
Department of Voice and Speech disorders
University Hospital
221 85 Lund
Sweden
Phone number: +4646171756 Fax: +4646171732
Email: Christina.e.askman@skane.se