voice banking – NZ MND Research Network

Examining the experience of healthy voice donors during the ModelTalker voice banking process.

Journal: Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups

Published: August 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1044/2019_PERS-SIG2-2018-0011

Authors: Westley, M., Sutherland, D., & Bunnell, H. T.

Purpose

Voice banking is the process of recording an individual’s speech to create a personalized synthetic voice to use on speech-generating augmentative and alternative communication devices. This study set out to examine the experience of healthy voice donors during the ModelTalker voice banking process and to identify specific issues related to voice banking in the New Zealand context.

Method

Eight healthy adults and 2 children completed the ModelTalker voice banking protocol. All participants completed a questionnaire about their voice banking experience, including the length of time required as well as the ease and the technical aspects of the process.

Results

The median time taken to complete the voice banking process was 5 hr 30 min (range: 3 hr 10 min to 11 hr). Questionnaire responses included themes related to the voice banking process, such as increased awareness of voice banking and its benefits, positive features and challenges of the ModelTalker process, and potential adaptations for the New Zealand context.

Conclusions

The findings support the use of ModelTalker with New Zealand speakers and inform development of voice banking protocols. The voices created as part of this study are available for people using speech-generating devices who want to use New Zealand–accented voices. Future research is needed to investigate the voice banking experiences of clinical populations, such as people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Researcher

Dean Sutherland, PhD
Senior Lecturer
School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing
University of Canterbury

Current Research

I am passionate about supporting adults with complex movement and communication difficulties – and the people who they communicate with. My research has focused on alternative communication techniques, use of assistive communication technology, and communication partner knowledge and skills.

My latest study focused on supporting adults with complex motor and speech difficulties to be able to have access to effective communication options. The study included testing a voice-banking protocol and voice donors and creating ‘Kiwi-accented’ voices that can be used on a variety of speech-generating communication systems for people who rely on these devices to communicate.

A publication from this study entitled “Voice Banking to Support People Who Use Speech-Generating Devices: New Zealand Voice Donors’ Perspectives” can be viewed here.

Relationship to MND

Many people with motor neuron disease experience difficulty speaking – with many becoming unable to speak. They are candidates for using alternative and augmentative forms of communication. Accessing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems with limited motor movement requires ‘alternative access’ methods (e.g., eye gaze) and also skilled communication partners (e.g., family and/ or caregivers).

Future Research

I am always interested in speaking with people with MND, students, clinicians, and researchers about collaborating on future research to better understand the communication needs and developing effective communication supports for people with MND.

Collaborations

Dr Catherine Theys, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, University of Canterbury (no current collaborative projects)

Publications

Westley, M., Sutherland, D., & Bunnell, H. T. (2019). Voice Banking to Support People Who Use Speech-Generating Devices: New Zealand Voice Donors’ Perspectives. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 4(4), 593-600.

Contact

E: dean.sutherland@canterbury.ac.nz

P: 03-369-5090