[WIP] Intermission: Extending Lorimer and Rutter's 2025 systematic review

Lorimer, G., Rutter, B. (2025) The efficacy of gender-affirming voice and communication therapy - a systematic review. Journal of Voice.

Introduction

Lorimer and Rutter seek out literature on trans voice from 2003-2023, and screen it down to eight studies - three of which I already reviewed (Merrick 2022 and Carew 2007, Quinn 2024 {they claim 2022 for publication year}), which leaves five for me to take a look at. Additionally, I am curious about the six articles they cut for not including client perceptions - given that I don't particularly care about that, only non-SLP listener perceptions.

A side tangent where I attempt to reproduce their screening process

In attempting to reproduce their list of 527 articles (from 2003 - 2023, prior to screening), using their provided search criteria, while currently not having great institutional access:

• PubMed: 293 results (should be 209)
• Cochrane Lbrary: 34 articles (should be 33), but using NEXT notation instead of quoted asterisk (as mentioned by warning from site) yields 45 articles.

Extending searches to 2026

• PubMed: 81 more articles
• Cochrane Library: 10 more articles (with NEXT)

List of articles after first phase of screening

From Cochrane

• D'haeseleer, E. (2023) Effectiveness of speech therapy in trans women. US National Clinical Trials, University Ghent.
• [3] (Leyns 2023)
• Gelfer, M. P., Tice, R. M. (2013) Perceptual and acoustic outcomes of voice therapy for male-to-female transgender individuals immediately after therapy and 15 months later. Journal of Voice, 27(3), 335-347.
• Leyns, C., Adriaansen, A., Daelman, J., Bostyn, L., Meerschman, I., T'Sjoen, G., D'haeseleer, E. (2024). Long-term acoustic effects of gender-affirming voice training in transgender women. Journal of Voice.
• Leyns, C., Meerschman, I., T'Sjoen, G., D'haeseleer, E. (2024). Short-term effects of a speech feminization program for transgender women: listener perceptions, self-perception and satisfaction of the voice. International Journal of Transgender Health, 25(4), 719-737.
• [9] (Papeleu 2025)

Review