Harmonizing Identities: A Scoping Review on Voice and Communication Supports and Challenges for Autistic Trans and Gender Diverse Individuals

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

About the autistic author marker

Glanville, B., Oates, J., Foley, K. R., Hurem, A., Osmetti, L., & Allen, K. (2025). Harmonizing Identities: A Scoping Review on Voice and Communication Supports and Challenges for Autistic Trans and Gender Diverse Individuals. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 56(8), 3114-3128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06768-1

Publication date: 3 Mar 2025 Added to AutiHub: 26 Oct 2026 Type: Article Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
6
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 6 (16.7%)

Abstract

Abstract Autistic trans and gender diverse (TGD) individuals face unique voice and communication challenges compounded by minority stressors, impacting wellbeing and access to care. Speech pathologists are crucial in providing gender-affirming and neurodiversity-affirming support; however, guidance for working with this intersectional population remains limited. This scoping review mapped current knowledge on voice and communication challenges, identifies available supports, and demonstrates the limitations of existing guidance for speech pathologists. This review draws on 40 sources, including 29 peer-reviewed articles, 8 clinical guidelines, 2 books, and 1 position statement, identified through comprehensive searches of databases such as CINAHL, ERIC, Medline, APA PsycINFO, and grey literature in May 2024. Findings indicated that 96.8% of identified challenges pertained to communication, while fewer (3.2%) focused on voice-specific issues. Similarly, supports primarily addressed communication (91.3%), with 8.7% targeting voice needs. Communication challenges included barriers faced by autistic TGD individuals and those interacting with them, including healthcare professionals, peers, and family. Supports were identified as strategies and resources to enhance service delivery and client wellbeing, such as using visual aids or offering multiple communication options. However, significant gaps remain in addressing the unique voice and communication needs of this population, particularly regarding voice dysphoria, camouflaging versus identity disclosure, and communication within healthcare settings. Autistic TGD individuals represent a unique population whose needs are not sufficiently addressed by current guidance. This review highlights significant gaps in research and clinical practice and calls for improved clinical guidelines and specialized training for speech pathologists to enhance care.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 27 Oct 2026 10:35.

Cited references
72
With a DOI
48
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
22
10 / 72 (13.9%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
18 / 72 (25.0%)
References with detected author names
55 / 72 (76.4%)
Without detected author names
17
Without a structured title
18
Without a stable identifier
21
References with raw author names still to review
17
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
502
From DOI or external metadata
502
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
41
190 / 502 (37.8%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 312 / 502 (62.2%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
34 / 502 (6.8%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 34 / 190 (17.9%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 27 / 435 (6.2%).
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