Voice Banking: An Investment in the Speech Pathologist’s Toolkit
Tracks
3
Adult
Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
Head and neck
Laryngectomy
Motor speech
Neurological disorders
Progressive disorders
Social communication
Voice
| Friday, June 13, 2025 |
| 10:30 AM - 10:40 AM |
Overview
Dr Lillian Krikheli and Dr Sarah El-Wahsh
Details
⏫ Skill-building session
⏲️ 10.30am - 11.30am
⌛ 60-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
⏲️ 10.30am - 11.30am
⌛ 60-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
Presenter
Dr Lillian Krikheli
La Trobe University
Voice Banking: An Investment in the Speech Pathologist’s Toolkit
10:30 AM - 11:30 AMPresentation summary
This 60-minute skill-building session is designed to equip speech pathologists with the skills and knowledge to facilitate voice banking in their clinical practice.
Voice banking is a process that allows people to create a personalised synthetic voice, which can subsequently be used in speech-generating devices. Based on recent research, facilitators will present this session through a progressive neurological diseases lens, however, this approach can also be useful for clinicians who work with people living with conditions that may result in the loss of laryngeal speech, such as Head and Neck Cancer. The use of message banking and donor voices will also be discussed.
During this session, attendees will identify the key clinical populations who can benefit from this approach, gain an understanding of the technical and clinical considerations and limitations, use strategies and consider timing of informational counselling and explore the various voice banking tools available on the market. Attendees will also learn how to guide clients through the process, from recording their voice to implementing the synthetic voice in a speech generating device. This includes integrating it across different softwares/platforms. A Q+A panel will conclude the session. Participants will be equipped with practical strategies to integrate voice banking into their clinical practice, improving personalisation to empower clients to ‘communicate their way’.
Voice banking is a process that allows people to create a personalised synthetic voice, which can subsequently be used in speech-generating devices. Based on recent research, facilitators will present this session through a progressive neurological diseases lens, however, this approach can also be useful for clinicians who work with people living with conditions that may result in the loss of laryngeal speech, such as Head and Neck Cancer. The use of message banking and donor voices will also be discussed.
During this session, attendees will identify the key clinical populations who can benefit from this approach, gain an understanding of the technical and clinical considerations and limitations, use strategies and consider timing of informational counselling and explore the various voice banking tools available on the market. Attendees will also learn how to guide clients through the process, from recording their voice to implementing the synthetic voice in a speech generating device. This includes integrating it across different softwares/platforms. A Q+A panel will conclude the session. Participants will be equipped with practical strategies to integrate voice banking into their clinical practice, improving personalisation to empower clients to ‘communicate their way’.
Refrences
Cave, R., & Bloch, S. (2021). Voice banking for people living with motor neurone disease: Views and expectations. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 56(1), 116–129. https://doi.org/10.1111/1460-6984.12588
Preserving identity is central to decision making when considering whether or not to voice bank. For those choosing to voice bank, it is seen as an effective way of preserving their identity, a way of 'fighting back' and giving a positive psychological benefit.
Hecht, M., Hillemacher, T., Gräsel, E., Tigges, S., Winterholler, M., Heuss, D., Hilz, M.-J., & Neundörfer, B. (2002). Subjective experience and coping in ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, 3(4), 225–231. doi:10.1080/146608202760839009
Many people with ALS/MND have reported loss of speech as the most distressing aspect of the disease, considering it worse than loss of mobility or overall poor prognosis.
Brown, J., & Addington-Hall, J. (2008). How people with motor neurone disease talk about living with their illness: a narrative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(2), 200–208. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04588.x
As MND is a degenerative chronic condition, plwMND may see voice banking as a hopeful and achievable activity that could help them live their lives as best they can, of preserving as a far as possible and engaging in hopeful activities
Preserving identity is central to decision making when considering whether or not to voice bank. For those choosing to voice bank, it is seen as an effective way of preserving their identity, a way of 'fighting back' and giving a positive psychological benefit.
Hecht, M., Hillemacher, T., Gräsel, E., Tigges, S., Winterholler, M., Heuss, D., Hilz, M.-J., & Neundörfer, B. (2002). Subjective experience and coping in ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Motor Neuron Disorders, 3(4), 225–231. doi:10.1080/146608202760839009
Many people with ALS/MND have reported loss of speech as the most distressing aspect of the disease, considering it worse than loss of mobility or overall poor prognosis.
Brown, J., & Addington-Hall, J. (2008). How people with motor neurone disease talk about living with their illness: a narrative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(2), 200–208. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04588.x
As MND is a degenerative chronic condition, plwMND may see voice banking as a hopeful and achievable activity that could help them live their lives as best they can, of preserving as a far as possible and engaging in hopeful activities
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Dr Lillian Krikheli is Lecturer in the Discipline of Speech Pathology with a particular interest in clinical laryngology and dysphagia management. Lilli's doctoral research was a multi-phase international consensus study investigating the role and practice of speech pathologists working in paediatric palliative care settings. Since then, she has continued to consult on projects that use Delphi methodology for clinical guideline development. Lilli is a certified practising speech pathologist (CPSP, MSPA) and her research is grounded in her ongoing clinical practice within the hospital environment.
Dr Sarah El-Wahsh
The University Of Sydney
Voice Banking: An Investment in the Speech Pathologist’s Toolkit
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM**********
Sarah completed her Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech Pathology) degree in 2017, graduating with Honours I, the University Medal, the Dean's Scholar Award, and the Speech Pathology Australia award for best graduating student. Sarah is passionate about progressive neurological diseases and has a particular interest in motor neurone disease (MND). She received a scholarship and completed her PhD in 2022 from The University of Sydney (USYD). She is a certified practicing speech pathologist in a tertiary hospital, and a Lecturer at USYD. She has several first-author publications and has co-authored several book chapters on communication and swallowing impairment in progressive neurological diseases. She has received multiple awards at national and international conferences, as well as in her work as a speech pathologist, for clinical excellence. Sarah sees great value in being a clinician-researcher-educator to ensure her research is person-centred and her clinical care and teaching is evidence-based.
The information contained in this program is current at of the time of publishing but is subject to changes made without notice.
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