'Word Bank' Program Offers Hope To People Who Lose Their Ability To Speak

By Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- On average, every day 15 people in the U.S are diagnosed with ALS also known at Lou Gehrig's disease.

Patients with ALS become paralyzed and lose the ability to speak even though their minds remain sharp.

Now there is new hope for people who lose their ability to speak because of a bank that collect words using a computer program.

For Dennis and Linny Oldham, a photo book holds years of happy memories, including memories of his voice.

Linny says Dennis always knew the right words to say.

"He just talked about everything," said Linny.

But the words don't come anymore for Dennis who has ALS.

"That's the person you love and you don't want to change anything," says Linny about her husband.

But everything has changed because ALS is a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that attacks nerve cells.

Patients become paralyzed while their minds stay sharp.

Dennis lost his strength first, then he lost his ability to walk and talk.

And that is the reason why Dennis is going to the bank.

The bank that he's going to is a place where voices are deposited.

A year ago, while his voice was still strong, Dennis recorded 1600 phrases and deposited them in the voice bank.

Now he's making a withdrawal and putting his voice onto an i-Pad using a program called the Model Talker filled with words used in everyday life.

It allows Dennis to communicate with words like 'let's stop and eat' or 'that's great'.

"It has your personality in your voice so I think that's pretty awesome," say Linny about her husband's words.

And even though ALS will continue to slowly take his life, the voice bank will keep Dennis' voice alive.

"If I want to tell her I love her, it will be me telling her that," he says.

"That's Dennis and when you hear it, it's like the disease is not even there" says Linny.

"Yeah, it's pretty phenomenal," he agrees.

The Model Talker program works with a PC, laptop, or tablet that has audio capabilities and a microphone.

There's also a web-based recording tool.

Model Talker is not just for ALS patients.

Anyone with a speaking disability can access the program.

Visit modeltalker.org to find out more.