People living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Spain can now apply through adELA for free access to ElevenLabs’ voice preservation and restoration technology. The partnership is the first Spanish project under the ElevenLabs Impact Program and the first national patient-association rollout of the service.
Eligible participants have two routes. Someone whose speech has not changed substantially can record fresh samples to create a digital version of their voice. A person whose speech has already deteriorated can instead provide older recordings. The resulting synthetic voice can be used to communicate with family, friends, caregivers or colleagues if natural speech becomes difficult or impossible.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that can lead to loss of speech. ElevenLabs estimates that 4,000 to 4,500 people in Spain live with the condition. The announcement profiles an aviation engineer and programming teacher who created a version of his voice as his speech began to fade. The technology does not treat ALS or stop its progression; its practical role is to preserve a recognizable means of communication. Applications and patient support are being handled through adELA.