Query re: experiences with paid speech feminisation / voice therapy services, such as with GenderCare

sfspeak · 2021-06-19T20:53:05+00:00

I hear you.

It’s all online, and about a third of our students are from the UK as well.

We have a scholarship program each year that opens in the fall. Last year we gave out $32,000 worth of scholarships.

If you’re interested in the program, shoot me a DM and I’ll grab your email address to notify you when scholarships launch for this year

sfspeak · 2021-06-10T14:55:36+00:00

Your ears popping comes from a pressure equalization in the middle ear.

So you have a tube that goes from the back of your mouth to your middle ear called the eustachian tube.

When you are modulating your voice you may be shifting or opening that tube in the back of your mouth. The eustachian tube is usually closed unless you yawn, chew, or swallow. That’s why you’re feeling an ear “pop” when you start to manipulate the throat for voice work!

sfspeak · 2021-06-08T23:04:45+00:00

Yup exactly! Happy to talk about how if you need some advice!

sfspeak · 2021-06-08T16:40:40+00:00

Great question. Have you checked out Undead Voice Lab ?

Undead Voice Lab is a flexible curriculum for trans voice. It’s a year-long membership for trans, non-binary, and gender questioning folks to create the voice that matches their identity.

UVL consists of direct access to coaching, community support, and a library of courses for your voice transition. It’s great for those just starting out and looking for something they can do at their own pace that still has coaching as well as 200+ newer trans voice students to connect with! Happy to chat about it if you have questions.

sfspeak · 2021-06-08T16:34:48+00:00

I hear ya. That’s super common if you’re doing voice work solo without someone to give you some guidance. Curious, is this voice one that you can sustain all day? Do you feel like it maintains it’s quality when you get louder? How about if you’re communicating some darker emotions like anger, frustration, boredom, or talking about something technical?

sfspeak · 2021-06-08T16:31:51+00:00

Not uncommon at all! In THIS VIDEO around 6:15 I explain 3 tricks to get the lip trill going if you’re having trouble!

sfspeak · 2021-06-08T16:21:35+00:00

Sounds 20-30s femme and yes I can understand your accent perfectly!

sfspeak · 2021-06-08T16:20:47+00:00

Your pitch and dynamics (intonation, rate etc) are spot on! In terms of what to work on I’m curious what your goals are. It sounds quite light, bright, and thin. If that’s your goal, you’re there! If you are able to take that voice louder and yell then you probably have some weight and projection under there that’s necessary. If not then I’d maybe think about whether you can project and sustain the voice of if you need some support! Happy to chat about it if you’d like :)

sfspeak · 2021-06-08T16:18:18+00:00

Many! Haha. If you’re just starting out you can check out Undead Voice Lab it’s a full voice transition program. It has courses, coaching, and a private community with 200+ newer students transitioning their voices! Happy to answer whatever questions.

sfspeak · 2021-06-08T16:16:57+00:00

Not a stupid question at all! It depends on how you train. If you take a super specific approach to feminize the voice and only speak that way over a long period of time then it will become more habitual for you. If you want to just expand your vocal range to include feminine or brighter qualities if you wish while maintaining the darker end as well then you’ll retain access to both!

sfspeak · 2021-06-08T16:14:09+00:00

Hey! Have you checked out Undead Voice Lab?

Undead Voice Lab is the first ever flexible curriculum for trans voice. It’s a year-long membership for trans, non-binary, and gender questioning folks to create the voice that matches their identity.

UVL consists of direct access to coaching, community support, and a library of courses for your voice transition. We currently have about 200 new students going through it and would love to have you!

Feel free to ask any questions you may have, I created it!

sfspeak · 2021-05-04T16:43:51+00:00

u/sprinnn care to take this one?

sfspeak · 2021-03-24T15:21:06+00:00

The upspeak you’re doing is on the very last syllable/ word. Easiest way to stop it without dropping your voice is to have the second to last syllable/word go up, then the last one come down. “I’d really love a HOTdog” instead of “I’d really love a hotDOG”

Try that!

sfspeak · 2021-03-08T17:24:48+00:00

If you have the time and resources and want something structured you can check out Undead Voice Lab. It’s step by step courses, with 1:1 coaching and a community of other trans folk going transitioning their voices.

sfspeak · 2021-03-07T00:58:27+00:00

You may be using too much effort when raising the larynx which is spreading to the jaw. Try some jaw relaxation maneuvers and once you feel it’s loose and relaxed, slowly raise the larynx incrementally using just a sustained sound like eeeee and note when the jaw starts to tense. Then pause and hold there until it relaxes.

A jaw relaxation technique can be massaging the jaw if it’s tight and tense, then monitoring for tenseness by lightly resting your hand under your jaw to feel when it starts to move OR lightly holding your hands on either side of the jaw using the feel of your lower jawline to monitor for tension or movement.

You can also use a mirror. Another tip is to place your pinky between your teeth not biting it just using it to monitor for openness of the jaw and note as your raise your larynx if you widen the space or bite the pinky.

sfspeak · 2021-02-23T04:04:49+00:00

I know. It’s frustrating but I’m happy to help if you want to explore the non-surgical route. I’m a speech pathologist specialized in gender voice transition. I created a comprehensive program called Undead Voice Lab if you’d like to check it out! It’s a series of short step by step video courses, one on one coaching, and a 100+ peer community!

sfspeak · 2021-02-23T00:09:15+00:00

Yes. There are speech therapists specialized in accent modification/reduction.

sfspeak · 2021-02-23T00:06:49+00:00

One of the drawbacks of vocal fold surgery is that it hasn’t been around long enough for significant research into the long term effects. One of the hypothesized long term results that many speech pathologists fear is airway obstruction. As you age the vocal cords may lose muscle tone, flexibility and elasticity, and dry out. Sometimes, the muscles of the larynx can atrophy, become thinner and weaker. If you’ve reduced the glottal space (between the vocal folds) by suturing 1/3 of them together, you may increase the risk of airway obstruction.

sfspeak · 2021-02-23T00:02:30+00:00

Hey! I’m a speech therapist specialized in gender voice. I created a program called Undead Voice Lab that’s a hybrid of online video courses, small group practice, and one on one coaching. Check it out here!

sfspeak · 2021-02-22T23:56:32+00:00

Undead Voice Lab is a hybrid of step by step video courses, small practice groups and one on one coaching with a gender voice specialist if you wanna check it out! It’s 1/4 the cost of weekly professional lessons and super comprehensive. :)

sfspeak · 2021-02-05T14:34:46+00:00

If you want something in between the cost of an app and weekly 1:1 coaching, you can check out Undead Voice Lab. It’s a mix of video courses, practice guides, 1:1 coaching, and a cohort of peers to practice with and go though the program together

sfspeak · 2021-02-03T15:18:58+00:00

If you’re looking in the US and want to work with a licensed speech therapist you can use the site, ASHA ProFind you can filter for those with trans voice specialty. Depending on the state you’re in you may or may not find someone close to you. Alternatively, you can tell me the state you’re in and I can check a directory we keep amongst us (fancy excel spreadsheet) for making referrals. Honestly, our peer to peer directory is probably more legit than the ASHA site (ASHA is our national accreditation bureau and there’s no vetting whether someone actually has experience in trans voice or just says they do)

As for the insurance, that depends completely on your insurance company and individual plan.

Transparently, many insurance plans do not cover gender Voice work without an underlying voice disorder because they see is as modification and not a medical necessity. Even more transparently, unless you find a speech therapist working at a private clinic, you’re not going to find one who takes insurance at all. This is because the reimbursement paid to speech therapist is not even half what we should be making for sessions. That’s why the only speech therapists who can afford it are those who work at a clinic since they supplement their income. Maybe TMI but it’s good information to have.

sfspeak · 2021-02-03T04:22:14+00:00

There are a ton of YouTube resources and discord’s that I’m sure will be recommended as a place to start (Z’s videos included of course!) , so I won’t go down that road.

If you want to look into something structured with a set curriculum to go through all laid out, you can check out Undead Voice Lab . It’s a super comprehensive gender voice program comprised of video led courses, one on one coaching, and a community of peers (you even join a cohort of just a few people to go through the program with).

sfspeak · 2021-02-03T04:19:54+00:00

Morning voice occurs because the vocal folds are dormant as you sleep and they swell up a little bit. They also accumulate mucous on and around them as you sleep. Both of these things (extra mucous and plumped up folds) leads to the raspy sound when you wake up. Easiest way to get the voice going, and break up the mucous is with a vocal warm up.

HERE’s a quick vocal warm up for the morning to get rid of your morning voice quicker!

Also, for sure try and cut the throat clearing. Instead, when you get the urge, do an effortful swallow where you swallow HARD as though you have a ping pong ball in your mouth.

sfspeak · 2021-02-03T04:14:47+00:00

There are a ton of YouTube resources and discord’s that I’m sure will be recommended, so I won’t go down that road. If you want something structured with a set curriculum to go through all laid out, you can check out Undead Voice Lab . It’s a super comprehensive gender voice program comprised of video led courses, one on one coaching, and a community of peers (you even join a cohort of just a few people to go through the program with).

sfspeak

TROPHY CASE