Investigating Training Outcomes for Graduate Students in Voice Banking: A Pre-Post Experience Study

Date of Submission

Spring 2026

Document Type

Closed Research Project

Degree Name

Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology

Department

Speech-Language Pathology

First Advisor

Ivonne Maldonado-De la Rosa, PhD, MLS, CCC-SLP

Abstract

Purpose: Voice banking (VB) is the process of creating a personalized synthetic voice that allows individuals to preserve aspects of their natural speech and maintain identity despite progressive communication loss due to neurodegenerative diseases. This study aimed to examine the impact of a structured VB training on SLP graduate students’ knowledge, preparedness, and adherence to a systematic VB protocol. Additionally, this study sought to address a central gap in graduate education regarding preparation for implementing emerging AAC practices such as voice banking. Methods: Participants completed a pre-test before receiving the structured training, followed by a hands-on VB experience, which included the VB platform account creation. On the second day, participants independently completed the previously taught protocol and a subsequent post-test. Results: Participants demonstrated improvements in both knowledge and preparedness following VB training, with greater gains observed in preparedness, given participants’ moderate baseline knowledge of VB prior to training. Protocol adherence data indicated strong overall performance in completing VB tasks and independent accuracy in tasks, while video observations revealed independent self-corrections and troubleshooting from participants. Conclusion: Findings support the feasibility and effectiveness of a structured VB protocol, especially for SLP graduate students. Results are suggestive of a greater likelihood of recommending VB to future candidates, indicative of increased exposure of VB and hopeful bridging of the gap in the literature between VB and its facilitators.

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