Mobile App Voice Therapy for Transitioning Voice

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Anais Rameau, MD, MPhil

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Disqualifiers: Cisgender, Hoarseness, Voice pain

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 11 weeks

50 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Attuned: A mobile application, In-Person Voice Modification Therapy?

Research shows that using a mobile app for voice therapy can help people stick to their practice routines better, as seen in a study where app users missed fewer practice tasks compared to those using traditional methods. This suggests that the Attuned app might also improve adherence to voice therapy, making it more effective. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the Attuned mobile app voice therapy treatment different from other treatments for transitioning voice?

The Attuned mobile app voice therapy is unique because it uses a smartphone application to enhance adherence to voice therapy by providing reminders, instructional recordings, and feedback on voice quality, which helps users practice more consistently compared to traditional methods. ^{2 3 4 5 6}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The investigators hypothesize that the mobile application they developed for transgender and gender diverse individuals (TGGD) will be equivalent or better than traditional speech therapy in improving voice quality. The investigators will measure both how the participants feel about their voices and how their voice actually sounds to see if the app is effective.

Research Team

Anais Rameau, MD, MPhil

Principal Investigator

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for transgender and gender diverse individuals over 18 who own an iOS device and can read/write in English. It's not suitable for cisgender people or those with voice-related issues like hoarseness or pain.

Inclusion Criteria

I identify as a transgender individual.

Be able to read and write in English

Have an IOS Device

Exclusion Criteria

I identify as the gender I was assigned at birth.

I have been experiencing hoarseness.

I experience pain when I use my voice.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo voice and communication modification training (VCMT) via the mobile application or in-person speech pathology

11 weeks

Baseline, Week 4, Week 11

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in voice quality and self-perception after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Attuned: A mobile application
• In-Person Voice Modification Therapy

Trial Overview The study tests a mobile app called Attuned, designed to help with voice modification, against traditional in-person therapy. The effectiveness will be judged by participants' satisfaction with their voices and objective measures of voice quality.

Participant Groups

Group I: Transgender and gender diverse (TGGD) individuals using the pilot app Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The investigators will develop Attuned, an open access voice and communication modification training (VCMT) app based on standard of care. Participants will undergo VCMT via the mobile application, Attuned. Participants will include healthy transgender and gender diverse (TGGD) individuals seeking voice modification to better reflect their identity.

Group II: Transgender and gender diverse (TGGD) individuals receiving standard voice modification Active Control 1 Intervention

VCMT via speech pathology will be compared to the efficacy of an app-based VCMT program. Participants will undergo VCMT in-person. Participants will include healthy transgender and gender diverse (TGGD) individuals seeking voice modification to better reflect their identity.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,103

Recruited

1,157,000+

Ithaca College

Collaborator

Trials

8

Recruited

1,100+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bi-Weekly Voice Therapy Versus Weekly Voice Therapy for Muscle Tension Dysphonia. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Comparison of Voice and Psychotherapeutic Treatments for Adults With Functional Voice Disorders: A Systematic Review. [2021]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing and Testing a Smartphone Application to Enhance Adherence to Voice Therapy: A Pilot Study. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An iOS-based Cepstral Peak Prominence Application: Feasibility for Patient Practice of Resonant Voice. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of an iOS App on Voice Therapy Adherence and Motivation. [2022]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reliability of Universal-Platform-Based Voice Screen Application in AVQI Measurements Captured with Different Smartphones. [2023]