TruVox Web-Based Software for Vocal Pitch Training in Transgender Women: Development and Single-Session Evaluations

Area of Science:

• Speech-language pathology
• Digital health interventions
• Transgender healthcare

Background:

• Transgender individuals, particularly transfeminine people, face distress from voice pitch mismatch.
• This distress negatively impacts mental health and quality of life.
• Existing gender-affirming voice training (GAVT) is often inaccessible due to cost and location.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate TruVox, a free, web-based software for GAVT.
• TruVox aims to provide real-time vocal feedback and structured pitch exercises.
• The goal is to improve GAVT accessibility for transfeminine individuals.

Main Methods:

• Developed a web-based platform (TruVox) with 5 vocal pitch exercises.
• Conducted remote usability testing and single-session in-person evaluations with 21 transfeminine participants.
• Collected data via System Usability Scale, Intrinsic Motivation Inventory, and performance metrics.

Main Results:

• TruVox achieved a high System Usability Scale score (mean 79.8/100).
• Participants reported high intrinsic motivation and significant improvements in vocal pitch exercises.
• Qualitative feedback indicated a desire for features like performance tracking.

Conclusions:

• TruVox is a usable and motivating foundation for GAVT software.
• It demonstrates potential for improving vocal exercise performance.
• This study represents the first quantitative evaluation of GAVT software, with future expansion planned.