Building a space that affirms all gender identities not only enhances our therapeutic work but also ensures that all clients feel respected, seen, and understood. Here’s a look at how SLPs and clients of SLPs can make our practices more gender-inclusive.

Pitch is a component of voice that determines how high or low it sounds. It is an important feature that determines a voice. Generally, a feminine voice has a higher pitch and a masculine voice has a lower pitch. The pitch of a voice is determined by a number of factors which are: the size of the vocal folds, the size of the larynx, the muscles of the larynx and the number of times vocal folds vibrate while producing voice.

The technique of straw phonation has gained considerable attention for its effectiveness and simplicity. This technique is part of a broader category known as Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract (SOVT) exercises. Both speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and vocal coaches use the technique to help clients improve resonance and vocal health.

Resonance, in very simple terms, is the vibration of a structure when its frequency is being  matched. In the human body, there are different cavities which can contribute to vocal resonance. A change in resonance changes the quality of a voice.