Speech Pathology Programs Promoting Access to Transgender Voice Therapy

Adelphi’s Hy Weinberg Center for Communication Disorders in Manhattan offers a Transgender Voice Group for clients to work on finding their authentic voice. The goals of this group are to increase awareness of practices regarding vocal and communication feminization, integrate therapy techniques that can be practiced at home, and support clients in the group setting as they use what they learn to augment their voices. Individual sessions are also available. Cost is $50 per semester, which is 12-14 weeks.

The ASU Speech and Hearing Clinic started offering specialized services for transgender clients in the summer of 2018 for 10 weeks per semester, featuring weekly 50 minute sessions. These services are available to anyone and are covered by some insurances. Those who are seeking an evaluation can get one at the clinic as well.

BU as opened a new voice clinic at their Speech, Language, and Hearing Center that includes services for transgender people. Clients can request an appointment once they have a diagnosis. Transgender-specific services are currently offered on Thursdays from 3 to 8PM. These services are administered by graduate students and are free to anyone who needs them.

The university’s Pauline K. Winkler Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic offers weekly 2 hour group sessions. Sessions kick off with a mindfulness component, followed by vocal strength and flexibility exercises, time to address individual client needs, and a gratitude activity to finish the session. These sessions are available to anyone, and cost about $150 for a semester.

The Maryjane Rees Language, Speech, and Hearing Center offers a TRANSitions Voice Clinic for those looking to find a voice that matches their gender. The clinic consists of twice a week, 70 minute sessions for two weeks. Twenty minutes are reserved for group instruction and conversation, with the remaining 50 minutes being reserved for one on one therapy. Services are available during the semester when graduate students are available. The clinic is a donations only clinic that is open to the community.

The Robbins Speech, Language and Hearing Center offers individual and group voice therapy- including evaluation, therapy sessions, and follow up evaluations- for transgender individuals. Anyone can benefit from these services, which are $30 per individual session and $25 per group session. Emerson was the first school in the Boston area to offer transgender specific services of this kind with the goal of training graduate students to fill the void in available voice therapy care for transgender individuals.

Professor Adrienne Hancock received a $300,000 grant from NIH to research voice and gender. The George Washington University Speech & Hearing Center launched Access and Barriers to Communication Services- aimed at identifying treatment barriers to those who are most marginalized, including transgender people. The program’s clinic offers an individualized approach to treatment that takes note of the fact that not all clients have the same goals- some do not want to cross a traditional pitch threshold or sound cisgender.

Clinic Director Shauna Smith is in the process of implementing individual therapy sessions at the Meridian Health Services Center, where students can gain experience helping transgender clients. Services are provided throughout the semesters with a sliding fee scale for those paying out of pocket. These services are available to anyone. Professor Smith is also working on getting funding for group and telehealth services for transgender patients.

The Eckelmann-Taylor Speech and Hearing Clinic has been offering individual and group sessions for transgender voice therapy since fall of 2017. Student efforts in a cultural diversity class led to an independent study project that led Mrs. Patricia Larkin and Dr. Lisa Vinney to explore making gender affirming communication services available at the clinic. This resulted in a grant funded by the College of Arts and Science for an interdisciplinary program that collaborates with the social work department to provide additional resources for more holistic care. Those running the program are also working on cross training modules between speech and social work so that this interdisciplinary approach can continue past the grant.

The Iona College Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic offers individual therapy to those looking to find their authentic voice. Sessions are 60 minutes and there is an income based sliding fee schedule available. Anyone can enroll in the therapy, which is administered by supervised graduate students.

Since 2011, Ithaca College has been offering a Voice and Communication Modification program at the Sir Alexander Ewing Speech and Hearing Clinic at Ithaca College. Co-founders, Josie Zanfordino M.A., CCC – SLP a transgender woman and Mary Pitti M.S, CCC – SLP created this program in partnership with the LGBT Office at Ithaca College and the Planned Parenthood of Ithaca.

Faculty member Dr. Linda Hoag does research in the area of transgender voice and offers her services at the KSU Speech and Hearing Center. Services are currently provided in an individual format. There is a sliding fee scale for those who are not using insurance. Anyone can apply for therapy services, the best time to do so is before the start of the semester, but typically it isn’t difficult to get placements in the area of voice therapy because graduate students are in need of that experience.

The Speech and Hearing Sciences Clinic at Lamar University has a Voices in Transition specialty program for clients looking to find their authentic voice. They offer individual therapy, where clients meet with a graduate student twice per week. These services are available during the semester as part of graduate student field experience. Therapy is free. Those who are interested can reach out to the clinic to schedule a preliminary evaluation.

The Mercy College Speech and Hearing Center offers weekly individual voice therapy sessions for transgender individuals. Sessions are offered during the semesters and are administered by graduate students. Anyone can enroll in these sessions. In the past, 5 week packages have been offered during summer for $50.

At the NYU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, graduate students provide services to transgender clients with the help of faculty members, including individual as well as group sessions where clients can come together and talk about their experiences and progress. Those in individual therapy can work with their clinician to create an appointment schedule, while group therapy meets once per month and is for both transgender men and women.

The NCCU Speech and Hearing Clinic houses a transgender voice clinic that is free to all clients and offers pitch and communication modification. For voice masculinization, there are individual services available, with the hopes that there will be enough interest to form a therapy group in the near future. For voice feminization, both group and individual therapy is available. Groups meet weekly and patients enrolled in individual sessions have one to two sessions per week. Treatment is offered by graduate students under the supervision of a licensed speech pathologist.

Evaluation and voice therapy services are available to transgender people through the Northwestern Center for Audiology, Speech, Language, and Learning. Individual and group therapy are both available.  Therapy is administered by supervised graduate students.

The Old Dominion University Speech and Hearing Clinic offers individual and group therapy as part of their Transgender Voice and Communication Program. For individual therapy, clients come twice a week for an hour. Depending on the number of interested clients, group therapy may be available as well. Therapy is offered during the semesters to anyone in the public, and the cost is $75 for the semester.

The Pacific Psychology & Comprehensive Health Clinic Offers transgender voice coaching. Therapy is offered in the form of one on one sessions through supervised graduate students. Those enrolled typically attend one therapy session per week. The clinic currently only takes Medicare insurance but provides an income based fee schedule for those paying out of pocket.

The Oregon Scottish Rite Speech and Language Clinic launched a free public lab in October of 2018 for transgender and gender nonconforming voice therapy. The lab offers 9 weeks of sessions that are half one on one and half group. Everything from voice to articulation to breath is addressed to help participants find their authentic voice. This lab, run by clinical professor and SLP Jeff Conn, is available every school term.

The Salus University Speech-Language Institute offers free individual therapy as well as the Raise Your Voice transgender support group. Individual therapy is held weekly and the group meets monthly on Saturdays. Anyone can participate in the group or take advantage of the individual therapy sessions. All services are provided by supervised graduate speech students.

The Kay Armstead Clinic offers a transgender voice clinic with the ability to provide precise feedback on progress through advanced technology. Therapy is offered to individuals in the form of a 12 week program with once weekly appointments that are given by supervised graduate students. All patients start with an evaluation. This is a free clinic that is funded through donations, participants are asked only to pay a $10 parking pass fee.

The SIUE Speech-Language-Hearing Center offers voice evaluations and therapy to transgender clients. Individual therapy is offered twice a week by supervised graduate students. There are three sessions throughout the year- spring, fall, and summer. The spring and fall sessions are 13 weeks long and the summer session is 8 weeks long.

Through the Speech and Hearing Clinic, individual therapy is offered twice per week for 50 minute sessions. Clients enroll on a semesterly basis. Services are free as they are grant funded. Anyone can enroll in transgender voice therapy so long as a slot is available. Therapy is administered by supervised master’s students.

The Youngerman Center for Communications Disorders offers individual transgender therapy. This therapy is administered by supervised graduate students. For students of the university, services are free of charge. Additionally, faculty member Dr. Bridget Russell researches transgendered voice treatment.

Transgender voice therapy services are offered by the Temple University Speech-Language-Hearing Center. Therapy is offered one on one for one hour per week on a semesterly basis. The clinic is free to anyone in need of services. Supervised graduate students conduct the therapy sessions.

UCSF Transgender Care offers voice evaluation and therapy services, focusing on gender related social communication patterns as well as vocal tone and pitch. In addition to voice services offered specifically by an SLP, UCSF Transgender Care also has surgeons and physicians that can help with other aspects of transgender voice if necessary- such as surgical intervention to alter voice or augmenting the appearance of one’s adam’s apple.

Transgender voice therapy assessment and treatment is available at the University of Arizona Speech and Language Clinic. The evaluation is 3 hours. Therapy is offered in the form of individual sessions which occur for one hour per week. Therapy is administered by graduate students and anyone in need of these services can become a patient.

The UConn Speech and Hearing Clinic offers one on one therapy to transgender clients as a way to train their graduate students. When there is demand, group sessions are also available. Individual sessions are weekly and cost $35 per session. The program started in a simple way- someone called and asked for the treatment so the clinic started offering individual sessions. They start with an evaluation, then assess goals, then provide treatment. Some people travel significant distances for voice therapy at the clinic and as many as 2-12 clients have been helped at any given time.

The UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic offers transgender voice and communication services. Supervised graduate students offer individual therapy to clients about once per week. Therapy is available to anyone, and those who need financial assistance may apply for aid.

The university Speech-Language Pathology Clinic offers voice coaching for transgender individuals. Therapy is in the form of one on one sessions provided by a supervised graduate student. Session frequency depends on the client’s needs. A student discount is available for students at the university. The supervising SLP mentoring the graduate students offering the therapy is the only one trained in the area to provide transgender voice therapy services.

The Wendell Johnson Speech and Hearing Center offers evaluation and individual therapy sessions for male to female transition voice therapy. Frequency of sessions starts at one a week and then increases or decreases depending on a client’s needs. There is a sliding fee scale available for those paying out of pocket.

Transgender voice services are offered at the University of Maryland Hearing and Speech Clinic. Services include one on one therapy sessions, where appointment frequency may be once or twice a week depending on the client’s schedule. These services are offered during the semesters or over half of the summer and are administered by graduate students. Students of the university can receive the services for half price.

Transgender voice development services are offered by the University of Memphis Speech and Hearing Center. Therapy sessions are one on one and meet about one a week, depending on the client’s needs. Therapy is covered by most insurances but there is also a client assistance program to aid those who are paying out of pocket.

The Davis Center offers individual voice therapy, and group therapy when there is interest, for transgender clients. One on one therapy is typically weekly during the semesters but frequency is client dependent. Services are discounted for U of M students, and there is a sliding fee scale available for non-students.

The UNR Trans Voice and Communication Clinic provides voice therapy services to transgender clients. During the semesters, individual therapy is available. In the summers, those enrolled in individual therapy also have the option to meet as a group. Session frequency is 1-2 times per week. Recently, the clinic has been working with the VA to provide services to transgender veterans, which the VA is paying for. With ASHA guiding practices on coding and billing for reimbursement, the Trans Voice and Communication Clinic is proud to set a precedent for getting transgender care covered by insurance, when it so often isn’t. The clinic works with the university’s Transgender Allies Group, whose members provide sensitivity training to the graduate students administering the therapy.

The UNM Speech-Language-Hearing Center offers voice feminization individual and group sessions. Individual sessions meet as often as needed based on patient needs and schedule. The cost of these sessions is based on a sliding fee scale. Group sessions are weekly and cost $30 per session. UNM students get a 10% discount.

The Northern Prairie Community Clinic offers transgender therapy services through supervised graduate student run individual therapy sessions. Typically, clients will attend twice weekly 50 minute sessions for the duration of a semester. This therapy is free for students, and there is a sliding fee scale available to non-students whose insurance does not cover the services.

The HEDCO Clinic offers a “Speak Up!” group for voice feminization that also takes time to explore transgender issues. This group meets weekly, and cost is on a sliding scale. Individual therapy is also available and is administered by graduate students.

Transgender voice therapy is offered by the otolaryngology department at the University of Pittsburgh Voice Center. This service has been available since 2011 for those looking to find their authentic voice. The department also conducts research to improve outcomes for transgender persons looking to modify their voices.

As of May 2017, a free voice clinic is available the URI Speech and Hearing Center to help transgender people find their authentic voice. The clinic offers several weekly sessions to those who need them, including individual and group sessions. This clinic was opened to address serious need for these services in the area, which previously were only as close as Connecticut and Boston.

The Voice Brain and Language Lab offers a voice modification clinic for transgender individuals. Services are free and there are 16 graduate students available to work with clients. Dr. Patricia Lara is also researching transgender voice therapy outcomes at the clinic.

Transgender voice therapy is offered by the Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. Therapy is offered through one on one sessions on a semesterly basis with a graduate student who is supervised by a speech pathologist. A sliding fee scale is available for those paying out of pocket.

The Charles Van Riper Language, Speech and Hearing Clinic’s Voice Laboratory offers therapy for transgender persons. The therapy is individual therapy, which is usually once a week on a semesterly basis. All clients must get an evaluation before starting therapy. Therapy is $188 for the semester.

Clinicians at the UW Speech and Hearing Clinic develop personalized therapy plans for transgender individuals. Therapy is one on one and meets once or twice per week, depending on client, graduate student, and supervising clinician schedules. Those who wish to enroll can sign up by the semester.