声音疗法：换性者的福音
http://www.100md.com
2000年11月22日
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - For some transsexuals, changing their voices is one of the trickiest transitions they face. The difference between male and female voices goes far beyond pitch. There is intonation, speech rate, resonance and host of other subtleties that separate a feminine voice from a masculine one.
Although hormone therapy helps women attain a masculine voice, it does not work for male-to-female transsexuals. They have been left with the option of vocal cord surgery, which typically produces a higher, sometimes squeaky, voice.
Now, a new option known as voice feminization therapy is emerging in some speech pathology clinics. According to one speech pathologist, she now has a 1.5-year waiting list of people seeking the therapy.
Michelle Mordaunt of the University of Washington in Seattle has worked with about two dozen transsexual clients so far, helping them learn all the little things that make a voice feminine.
``Pitch isn't everything,'' Mordaunt told Reuters Health. In fact, she said, making male voices higher is the least important concern.
There is, for example, the pitch range men and women use as they speak. ``Men tend to be more monotone,'' Mordaunt explained. Varying the pitch helps feminize the voice. Men also typically speak at a steady rate, while women tend to speak in shorter bursts followed by pauses.
Along with these distinct vocal qualities, Mordaunt's clients learn the differences in men's and women's language patterns.
``Women,'' she said, ``often use 'tag questions.' They'll say something like, 'It's a beautiful day, isn't it?''' A man, on the other hand, would be more likely to simply declare it is a beautiful day.
Mordaunt's clients typically take about 27 weeks to make their vocal transition. She considers the therapy to be successful when clients are happy with how they sound. A lot depends on whether clients have people in their lives who support them, she noted.
Finding a speech pathologist who offers voice feminization therapy may take some time. Mordaunt said university speech pathology clinics are the best place to start the search. Several universities have programs, and, according to Mordaunt, university clinics would probably be more willing to take on clients who want voice feminization., http://www.100md.com
Although hormone therapy helps women attain a masculine voice, it does not work for male-to-female transsexuals. They have been left with the option of vocal cord surgery, which typically produces a higher, sometimes squeaky, voice.
Now, a new option known as voice feminization therapy is emerging in some speech pathology clinics. According to one speech pathologist, she now has a 1.5-year waiting list of people seeking the therapy.
Michelle Mordaunt of the University of Washington in Seattle has worked with about two dozen transsexual clients so far, helping them learn all the little things that make a voice feminine.
``Pitch isn't everything,'' Mordaunt told Reuters Health. In fact, she said, making male voices higher is the least important concern.
There is, for example, the pitch range men and women use as they speak. ``Men tend to be more monotone,'' Mordaunt explained. Varying the pitch helps feminize the voice. Men also typically speak at a steady rate, while women tend to speak in shorter bursts followed by pauses.
Along with these distinct vocal qualities, Mordaunt's clients learn the differences in men's and women's language patterns.
``Women,'' she said, ``often use 'tag questions.' They'll say something like, 'It's a beautiful day, isn't it?''' A man, on the other hand, would be more likely to simply declare it is a beautiful day.
Mordaunt's clients typically take about 27 weeks to make their vocal transition. She considers the therapy to be successful when clients are happy with how they sound. A lot depends on whether clients have people in their lives who support them, she noted.
Finding a speech pathologist who offers voice feminization therapy may take some time. Mordaunt said university speech pathology clinics are the best place to start the search. Several universities have programs, and, according to Mordaunt, university clinics would probably be more willing to take on clients who want voice feminization., http://www.100md.com