Voice and message banking

This information is correct as of December 2025.

Important: We cannot support you to create your own voice or message bank. If you have already created a digital voice or have messages, we can use them on our communication devices.

For help with voice or message banking, please contact your local speech and language therapist.

What is voice banking?

Voice banking is making a digital version of your voice. You do this by reading sentences aloud and recording them using voice banking software.

If you have a condition that may affect your speech over time, we recommend you bank your voice as early as possible. The earlier you do it, the better the quality of the digital voice.

If voice banking is not possible then there are other options. Some software allows you to ‘repair’ your voice, ‘blend’ it with a voice donor (like a family member or friend) or create an individual digital voice. Some software also allows you to upload past videos and voice recordings to create a digital voice.

Most voice banking software allows you to record your voice for free, and only pay when you download the voice. AAC WEST cannot help with funding for voice banking, but your local speech therapist can support you to seek funding from charities to download your voice.

Can my communication aid use my voice?

If you have created your digital voice and have secured funding for it, then our team can add it to a device. This means that the device will then speak using your digital voice. Not all voice banking software is compatible with all AAC software. We will need to check this.

What is message banking?

Message banking is an option that allows you to pre-record messages for later use. These can be words, phrases, sentences, sounds and stories.

Can I have my recorded messages on my communication aid?

Yes. AAC WEST can upload these messages onto your device, so they can be played whenever you’d like.

How can I document my wishes for managing my digital data in the future?

A helpful way to plan what happens to your digital data in the future is by creating a digital legacy. This is the ‘electronic footprint’ that includes your online accounts, photos, videos and other digital content.

You can document your wishes by:

Listing all your digital assets – such as your email, social media accounts, cloud storage and any important files.
Deciding what you would like to happen to each – whether you would like them to be delete, saved or shared.
Choosing someone you trust to carry out your wishes.
Writing down your wishes and instructions – this can be part of a formal plan or kept in a secure place where your chosen person can access it when needed.

For more information about creating a digital legacy please visit the Digital Legacy Association website.