Research Review: “Doing the Inner and Outer Work: Culturally Responsive Practices in Gender-Affirming Voice Care"
Voice care is about more than sound—it’s about identity, authenticity, and connection. But how can we, as voice clinicians, ensure our work honors the diverse stories our clients carry? This research review highlights the article "Doing the Inner and Outer Work: Culturally Responsive Practices in Gender-Affirming Voice Care," written by leaders in the field and published in Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. This open-access resource, available here, offers actionable strategies for integrating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles into voice practice.
Research reviews like this one are designed to connect you with free resources that can elevate your skills and transform your approach to voice care. While the article focuses on gender-affirming care, its principles extend to all voice work, highlighting the importance of cultural responsiveness for clinicians working with diverse populations.
Why This Work Matters
The authors emphasize that gender-affirming voice care requires both self-reflection and active engagement with the intersections of identity—such as race, neurodivergence, and disability. This emphasis is essential for creating safe, inclusive spaces where all clients feel supported in achieving their vocal goals.
One practical example from the article involves ethnographic interviewing, a method that encourages clinicians to ask open-ended questions like, “What does an authentic voice feel like to you?” This process helps uncover goals that extend beyond pitch or resonance, offering insights into the client’s lived experiences and their desired outcomes.
Practical Application
The article provides exercises and action steps to help clinicians integrate culturally responsive practices into their work. For instance, it suggests revisiting intake forms to ensure inclusive language, such as offering pronoun options, and embedding culturally affirming practices like trauma-informed care principles.
The authors also highlight the need for clinicians to address their own implicit biases and expand their understanding of how intersectionality—such as race, gender, and disability—shapes client experiences. For example, they recommend exploring the six tenets of gender-affirming care, which include recognizing that gender expression varies across cultures and ensuring healthcare providers critically examine their own biases.
By applying these tenets, clinicians can create spaces where clients feel safe to explore and achieve their unique voice goals.
VoiceProEd’s Commitment to Supporting Clinicians
At VoiceProEd, we echo the call for culturally responsive care. Our courses and resources are designed to help clinicians integrate JEDI-informed practices into their work, whether in a private clinic, academic setting, or multidisciplinary team. We believe that small changes—like updating terminology or incorporating trauma-informed principles—can create profound improvements in client experiences and outcomes.
Upcoming Course: Unpacking the Binary: Gender Affirming Voice Basics
To further your knowledge, we invite you to our upcoming course, Gender Affirming Voice Basics, on January 19th at 3 PM EST. This session will provide practical tools and foundational insights for clinicians looking to deepen their understanding of gender-affirming voice care.
We encourage you to read the full article and consider how the findings might influence your approach to working with older adults that experience voice changes. Incorporating evidence-based research into your practice not only enhances your professional development but also ensures that your clients receive the most informed and effective treatments.
Stay tuned for more research reviews and resources to support your practice!
