Voice banking for people living with motor neurone disease: Views and expectations.

This research is the first study of its kind to examine the considerations for decision making around voice banking for plwMND. Preserving identity is central to decision making when considering whether or not to voice bank. However, the reality of using AAC and voice banking for communication is poorly understood. Professionals have a role to provide plwMND with more information about voice banking in the wider context of using AAC for communication. It may be that the process of voice banking itself is seen as a positive act for plwMND, independent of how it is used later. Further research with associated professionals and stakeholders is indicated. What this paper adds What is already known on this subject Voice banking creates an approximation of the person.s own voice that can be used in AAC, and is argued to go some way to preserve a person's identity when natural voice is lost. There is significant and growing interest in voice banking from the MND community, but there has been little supporting research. What this study adds This research is the first study of its kind to examine decision making surrounding voice banking. It shows how preserving identity is critically important in how people deal with a diagnosis of MND. 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. Those deciding against voice banking do not believe it could maintain their identity and cannot bring back the natural voice they once had. Clinical implications of this study The reality of using AAC and voice banking for communication may be poorly understood. It would be helpful for professionals to provide information about voice banking as part of a wider discussion about the range of options for communication as the condition progresses. It is important that this includes the opportunity to listen to a voice bank to support understanding of how it is used in a communication device, and how different it sounds to natural speech.