Author: Maura    Philippone

Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders

Graduation Year: 2020

Thesis Advisor: Nancy Hall

Description of Publication: This university IRB-approved thesis follows a case study research design and investigates the effectiveness of the app “Voice Analyst” as a supplement to transgender voice and communication therapy. It is hypothesized that the use of “Voice Analyst” outside the clinic will enable participants to make greater progress and to increase their ability to retain their progress. The participants are four transgender women who want to raise the pitch of their speaking voices. The participants are asked to record themselves reading “The Rainbow Passage,” and their data are tracked in a spreadsheet. “The Rainbow Passage” is the standardized passage used for all tracked recordings in this study. The study includes 4 phases and spans 12 weeks. For the first phase, participants take 7 recordings during one week to provide a baseline. During weeks 2-4, participants attend therapy sessions, practice with “Voice Analyst,” and submit weekly recordings. During weeks 5-8, they attend therapy, but do not use “Voice Analyst”. For weeks 9-12, they continue with therapy and resume “Voice Analyst” use. Quantitative data on pitch and volume changes, as well as qualitative interview data regarding the participants’ experience with the app are presented in tabular and graphic form. Trends observed and future directions are discussed.

Location of Publication:

URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/611/