The voice of the transsexual

Abstract

It may seem a departure from the traditional view of the speech therapist’s role in the treatment of voice disorders to include a chapter on voice work with transsexuals (individuals who feel they have been born into a body of the wrong gender). However, it is important to realize that this type of work is increasingly becoming the responsibility of the speech therapist as part of the medical team working with these clients. Consequently there is a need for these therapists to be aware of the medical programme involved when sexual reassignment is considered, and be conversant with the transsexual condition and the many ramifications that work of this type entails. This is in addition, of course, to any therapy procedures that may need to be undertaken.