Voice Banking and ALS: Preserving Identity with AAC
When a person receives a diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), one of the first concerns is the potential loss of speech. A person’s voice goes beyond being a tool for communication— it carries a person’s identity, personality, and emotional expression. Thankfully, advancements in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and voice banking technology allow individuals diagnosed with ALS to preserve this vital part of themselves.
What Is Voice Banking?
Voice banking is a process in which an individual records a variety of phrases and words while their speech is still clear and strong. The recordings created are later used to create a synthetic voice that closely matches the person’s natural tone, cadence, and personality. Later, as the disease progresses and speech becomes difficult or impossible, the person can use their previously created personalized voice within an AAC device to communicate in a way that still feels like “them.”
Benefits of Voice Banking for ALS
Preserving Identity
A personally created synthetic voice captures unique elements of a person’s speaking patterns, including accent, intonation, and rhythm, making the verbal output of the AAC sound more authentic. Instead of relying on a generic robotic voice, individuals can continue expressing themselves in a voice that mirrors their own.
Enhancing Emotional Connection
For friends and family, hearing a loved one’s familiar, personalized voice through the AAC device provides comfort and emotional connection. This may decrease the immediate sense of loss and maintain relational closeness.
Supporting Communication Independence
AAC systems with a banked voice allow individuals with ALS to continue participating in conversations, activities of daily living, and social activities. This independence can lead to continued positive feelings regarding quality of life.
Where to Buy Voice Banking Software & How the Process Works
Voice banking can be completed at home with the help of specialized software. The process typically includes:
Choosing a Voice Banking Provider
Acapela MyOwnVoice (www.acapela-group.com): Depending on the package chosen, a synthetic version of your voice is generated by recording 50-350 sentences.
ModelTalker (www.modeltalker.org): A well-known option requiring 1,600+ recorded phrases to create a high-quality voice.
VocaliD (www.vocalid.ai): Offers personalized synthetic voices using either recorded samples or “voice blending.”
Apple Personal Voice (https://support.apple.com/en-us/104993): Apple’s new “Personal Voice” feature allows users with certain devices to create a synthesized version of their voice that can be used with FaceTime or AAC apps.
Recording Your Voice
A person with ALS will utilize a microphone and a quiet environment to read a set of sentences generated by the provider.
This process is completed prior to the individual with ALS experiencing impacts on his/her speech.
Creating the Synthetic Voice
Once recordings are completed and uploaded to the software, a personalized, synthetic voice is created
This voice can then be downloaded and used with a variety of compatible AAC apps.
Integrating With AAC
After the synthetic voice is created, it can be imported into many AAC apps
Resources for Families
Navigating an ALS diagnosis can feel overwhelming for both the individual diagnosed and their loved ones. However, multiple resources that offer support, including:
ALS Association (www.als.org): Education, equipment loan programs, and support groups.
Team Gleason (www.teamgleason.org): Assistance with voice banking, AAC technology, and other adaptive supports.
MyVocaliD (www.vocalid.ai): A company specializing in personalized synthetic voices.
Local ALS Clinics: Many multidisciplinary ALS clinics provide referrals to speech-language pathologists trained in AAC and voice banking.
How Speech Bee Speech Therapy Can Help
Speech Bee Speech Therapy is proud to be a Voice Options Program Provider in the state of California. The Voice Options Program provides eligible individuals with free access to AAC apps on an iPad. Many of these apps can integrate a banked voice.
Our team works directly with families to:
Guide through the voice banking process by selecting a trusted software provider.
Provide AAC trials with up to six different communication apps.
Help families navigate the process of receiving a free AAC device.
Assist with customization, training, and ongoing support.
For families facing the challenges of ALS, early planning makes all the difference. By completing the voice banking process before speech declines, individuals can preserve identity, maintain emotional connections, and ensure continued communication.
