Making voice training easier for transgender individuals using smartphone technology
Official title: Improving the accessibility of transgender voice training with visual-acoustic biofeedback
Funded at University of Cincinnati · NIH-11237219 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a friendly smartphone app to help transgender and gender diverse people feel more comfortable with their voices by providing easy exercises and real-time feedback to help them adjust their voice to match their gender identity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Cincinnati NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 21, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $116,149 |
| NIH project number | 3R21DC021537-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11237219 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are transgender and gender diverse individuals experiencing voice dysphoria.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience voice dysphoria or those who are not interested in voice training may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to improve the quality of life for transgender and gender diverse individuals by addressing voice dysphoria, which occurs when a person's voice does not align with their gender identity. The project will develop a smartphone application that provides gender-affirming voice and communication training (GAVT) using visual-acoustic biofeedback to help users modify their voice pitch and resonance. By offering accessible exercises and real-time feedback, the app seeks to overcome barriers associated with traditional voice training methods, which can be costly and time-consuming. The goal is to create a user-friendly tool that empowers individuals to achieve a voice that better matches their gender identity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the quality of life for transgender individuals by providing them with accessible tools to achieve voice congruence.
How similar studies have gone: While some smartphone apps for voice training exist, this approach is novel in its integration of visual-acoustic biofeedback specifically tailored for transgender voice training.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Novak, Vesna Dominika — University of Cincinnati
- Study coordinator: Novak, Vesna Dominika
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.