Parkinson's Voice Initiative

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

I heard about this this morning:

Whether you are healthy or living with Parkinson’s, help provide the voice information needed to build a system to screen for and monitor the symptoms of this debilitating disease. All you need to do: make a low-cost, anonymous, three-minute phone call.

USA 1-857-284-8035
Brazil 11 3957-0683
Mexico 55-41703631
UK 01865 521168
Spain 91 123 4793
Argentina 11.5252.8741
Canada 1-647-931-5776


What is the purpose of this initiative?
We aim to collect 10,000 voice recordings from people across the globe. These recordings will be used to achieve several scientific research goals: see the 'Vision' tab for more details.

Will my recording be anonymous?
Yes – all recordings are non-identifiable, and no personal information is stored.

Do I need to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s?
No – even if you are healthy your voice recordings will be helpful to the project.

What will you do with my recordings?
Your recordings will be used for scientific research purposes, to improve the technology.

Is the call free?
The call is charged, at the most, at your national call rate, but may cost less if you are in the same local area as the number.

How long does the call take?
3 minutes on average, and normally less than 5 minutes.

Will I receive feedback on my recording?
You can register for feedback on your voice recordings by visiting the ‘Request feedback’ tab, and submit your call reference number and email address. We plan to provide various metrics about voice quality in the near future as the research progresses.

Can I get a diagnosis?
No. Although we have shown that the technology can detect Parkinson’s from voice recordings, this initiative is for scientific research only. If you suspect you may have Parkinson’s disease, please visit your primary care provider or neurologist for professional advice.

How does it work: how can you detect Parkinson’s from voice recordings?
Subtle changes to the voice, including tremor, breathiness and weakness are detected by specialized algorithms.

If I have vocal tremor, weakness or breathiness, does this mean I have Parkinson’s?
Not necessarily. However, if you suspect you may have Parkinson’s disease, it is important to get professional advice.

How old do I have to be to contribute?
To give informed consent, you must be 18 years and over to contribute.