REVIEWS
“I am delighted to see this new publication, the first extensive clinical guide to voice and communication therapy for transgender / transsexual (TG/TS) clients…This book is well written and easily accessible…An abundance of treatment techniques and protocols make this a highly useful clinical resource.”

- ENT News
Volume 15 Number 4. September/October 2006

“This book represents a most useful resource for therapists working with this small, but complex client group. It provides a highly comprehensive approach to all aspects of therapy starting with a thorough examination of evidence-based practice principals to voice therapy, whilst acknowledging that the evidence for the effectiveness of voice therapy is generally weak. Although the authors have aimed the book at therapists who have developed some competencies in working with the TS/TG client, it is an excellent tool for those developing an interest in this field.

The psychosocial and psychotherapy chapters consider in detail the social and psychological issues and how they interact with therapy. Standards of care and Treatment plans provide appropriate and achievable therapy goals with aspects of pitch, intonation, rate, volume, syntax, pragmatics and semantics being supported with useful graded therapy exercises. The chapter on Nonverbal Communication, Assessment and Training is a particularly valuable resource. The accompanying CD demonstrates useful therapy examples.

Overall this book represents excellent value for money and although written with an American perspective, provides the therapist with a framework to plan effective treatment.”

"I am about half way through my first pass on the book. In my opinion it's a road map, not a one-time read, so I will make many passes at it as I improve my voice and make it more appropriate for my chosen gender. As I approach real transition it will become more and more valuable.
Overall, the book is excellent. I have found numerous examples of things I can improve on."

ABOUT THE BOOK
This is the first resource for speech-language pathologists and voice clinicians who assist transgender/transsexual patients in developing authentic voices, language, nonverbal communication congruous with their gender identification. This text guides clinicians who work with the transgender/transsexual population in designing and administering a mindful, focused and efficient treatment plan. Outstanding features include thorough background information on history, sociology, psychology, and medical terminology relevant to this population, and the overall role of the voice therapist and speech-language pathologist in the transition of a transgender client. Chapters cover each aspect of a communication training program, including case studies, summaries, appendices and an extensive bibliography. An accompanying Audio CD shows "before and after" communication therapy examples.

CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Richard K. Adler, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, F-ASHA
Dr. Richard K. Adler, CCC-SLP, has been a speech-language pathologist for 36 years. He has worked in a variety of employment settings including public schools, university clinics, hospitals, private practice, and private clinics. He is currently Professor of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences at Minnesota State University, Moorhead (MSUM), where he also directs the Voice Disorders Clinic and supervises undergraduate and graduate students in the MSUM Clinic. In the past three years, he started a Transsexual/Transgender Voice and Communication Program within the MSUM Speech and Hearing Clinic. He has presented many workshops and seminars at local, state, and national speech and hearing conventions in the areas of transsexual voice and communication, traumatic brain injury, multicultural issues, listening skills, interpersonal communication, and gender issues in the voice clinic. He teaches courses in neuroanatomy, adult and pediatric neurogenics, research, phonetics, introduction to speech language and hearing sciences, and directs research projects and theses in the department; he also teaches Rhetorical Criticism of Feminist Speakers/Lecturers in the MSUM Master of Liberal Arts degree program. Dr. Adler's research areas include traumatic brain injury, multicultural issues, course development, GLBT issues in the academic and clinical setting, and transgender/transsexual voice and communication.

Sandy Hirsch, M.S., CCC-SLP
Ms. Hirsch holds a B.A. in French and classics with a minor in music from the University of Lancaster, England and a M.S. in speech-language pathology from the University of Washington. She has been in private practice in Seattle since 1994 serving both business and clinical sectors. She has made voice and communication therapy with the transgender/transsexual population an important focus of her practice. Ms. Hirsch is also on staff at a Seattle Hospital.

Prior to receiving her Masters' degree, Ms. Hirsch was a professional actress and singer. She continues to be active as an amateur classical and jazz singer. Ms. Hirsch also speaks French, German and serviceable Italian and Spanish. A marriage of performance, language, and clinical backgrounds gives her an unusually rich perspective on voice and communication training, as well as a deep understanding of diverse cultures and personalities. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two sons.

Michelle Mordaunt, M.S., CCC-SLP holds a Master's degree from Purdue University, and has been a speech-language pathologist for fifteen years. She has worked primarily with adults in a variety of clinical and hospital settings. From 1995 until 2005, Ms. Mordaunt was the lecturer/clinical supervisor in the area of Voice and Voice Disorders at the University of Washington, Speech and Hearing Department in Seattle, Washington. While at the University of Washington, in addition to serving general voice and speech disorder clients, she developed a comprehensive voice and communication program for Transgender/Transsexual individuals.

Ms. Mordaunt has made frequent presentations in the area of Transgender/Transsexual communication at American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) conventions. She also presented at the Washington State Speech and Hearing Association (WSHA) conference, and has presented at the Northwest Transgender/Transsexual Esprit conference on numerous occasions. Ms. Mordaunt's work at the University of Washington has been featured in the San Francisco Examiner, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and Advance Magazine for Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists. Her work in this area has also been recognized on National Public Radio (NPR -KUOW), and Northwest Evening Magazine, a television commentary program.

Ms. Mordaunt is currently practicing in the Seattle area, where she is developing a private practice, while continuing to work in clinical and public sectors. Ms. Mordaunt lives in the Seattle area with her two sons.