Study Suggests Vocal Training Alone Can Physically Reshape the Voice — Without Surgery or Hormones

For transgender people, transitioning can be a complex and deeply personal process. To align how they sound and present with their gender identity, many turn to hormone therapy or even surgical procedures to modify the vocal cords. But those options can be expensive, risky, and require months of recovery.

A growing body of research suggests there may be a simpler, safer path — one that doesn’t involve surgery or medication at all. A recent study published in the Journal of Voice found that structured vocal training (also called vocal therapy) may actually cause measurable, physical changes in the vocal cords themselves.

“It’s not just a feeling,” said Angela Dionisio, a speech-language pathologist at the University of Cincinnati who reviewed the work. “Voice therapy can produce real physiological change.”

How It Works

Vocal therapy focuses on coordinated exercises that reshape how a person uses their vocal tract — lowering or lengthening the vocal tract, balancing breath support, and retraining resonance. Over time, these adjustments don’t just change how a voice sounds — they begin to change what it is capable of.

In the study, researchers analyzed footage of transgender participants’ vocal cords while speaking. Those who had undergone consistent vocal training showed a larger glottal gap (the space between the vocal folds), which directly affected pitch and tone quality.

The longer participants trained, the greater the measurable change — suggesting that consistent practice alone can gradually reshape the vocal mechanism.

Interestingly, these results appeared independent of hormone therapy, meaning the improvements were due to training itself, not testosterone or estrogen.

Why This Matters

This finding validates what many voice coaches and trans individuals have long observed: with the right technique and consistency, the voice can evolve dramatically without surgery. It also supports growing calls to make gender-affirming voice therapy more accessible and recognized as legitimate medical care.

“Getting voice therapy covered by insurance for transgender individuals is like pulling teeth,” said Dr. Greg Dion, one of the study’s authors. “Research like this shows why it’s essential.”

Bringing the Research Into Practice

While clinical vocal therapy can cost hundreds of dollars per session, the core methods — resonance control, breath work, and muscle coordination — can be trained safely with guided digital tools.

That’s where new technology steps in. Apps like Voicepill use the same research-backed principles found in this study, helping users practice pitch stability, resonance control, and speech balance with real-time feedback.

By making these methods accessible and trackable daily, people can now apply proven voice therapy techniques from anywhere — without paying for clinical sessions.

Final Thoughts

This research highlights something powerful:

Voice change doesn’t always need to come from hormones or surgery — it can come from you.

With consistent, guided training, your voice can shift to reflect who you really are — physically, emotionally, and audibly.

If you want to explore research-based voice training that helps you track real progress week by week, you can try Voicepill — an app built around the same principles used in this study.

👉 Learn more about the study and explore training tools here