HIPAA-Compliant Voice Analysis Software for SLPs
- HIPAA-compliant hosting
- Signs a BAA
- Encrypted links & database
- 30-day free trial
- No credit card
Key takeaways
- Voice recordings are usually PHI. Any tool that records, stores or analyzes them for you must meet HIPAA.
- Your vendor must sign a BAA. HHS says a cloud service storing ePHI is a business associate even if the data is encrypted. No BAA means a HIPAA violation.
- “HIPAA certified” means nothing official. HHS does not recognize private HIPAA certifications. Ask for the BAA instead.
- Phonalyze signs a BAA, runs on HIPAA-compliant hosting, encrypts patient data and sends patients anonymous links.
- Try it free for 30 days with no credit card. After that, $39/month for one clinician, cancel anytime.
What is voice analysis software for SLPs?
Voice analysis software records a patient’s voice and measures it objectively. It reports acoustic measures such as cepstral peak prominence (CPP/CPPS), the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI), jitter, shimmer, harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), pitch and intensity. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and laryngologists use these numbers to document voice disorders, set baselines and track therapy progress.
The best tool for a clinic today does three jobs at once: it produces clinically meaningful measures, it lets patients record remotely as well as in the room, and it keeps every recording HIPAA-compliant. Most tools manage one or two. This guide shows you how to check all three before you buy.
Why HIPAA applies to voice recordings
A voice sample tied to a patient’s name, appointment or diagnosis is protected health information (PHI). HIPAA goes further: it lists voice prints as a biometric identifier that must be removed before data counts as de-identified under the Safe Harbor method (45 CFR 164.514(b)(2)). In practice, treat every patient recording as PHI.
That matters more since telehealth flexibilities ended. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, HHS relaxed enforcement for telehealth tools. That relief ended with the emergency, and the transition period closed on August 9, 2023. Remote voice work must now run on tools that fully meet HIPAA, including a signed BAA.
For a deeper look at PHI and Praat, read Praat Alternatives for SLPs: A HIPAA-Compliant Option.
The Business Associate Agreement (BAA): the non-negotiable
A Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is a contract between a HIPAA covered entity (such as your practice) and a vendor that handles PHI on its behalf. It requires the vendor to safeguard the data, use it only as allowed, report breaches, and bind its own subcontractors to the same rules (45 CFR 164.502(e) and 164.504(e)).
HHS guidance on cloud computing is explicit. A cloud service that stores ePHI is a business associate “even if the CSP processes or stores only encrypted ePHI and lacks an encryption key for the data.” If you use such a service without a BAA, HHS says you are “in violation of the HIPAA Rules.”
Watch out for marketing shortcuts:
- “HIPAA certified.” HHS states it does not endorse or recognize private organizations’ HIPAA “certifications”. A badge is not a BAA.
- “We’re encrypted, so no BAA is needed.” False for any service that stores your patients’ data, per the HHS cloud guidance.
- Consumer apps and general cloud drives. Recording on a phone app and emailing or syncing files usually means PHI sits with vendors that have not signed a BAA with you.
Phonalyze signs a BAA. Every SLP, clinic and practice using Phonalyze for patient care can sign a Business Associate Agreement with us before entering any patient data. Email support@phonalyze.com to request it during your free trial.
How Phonalyze keeps patient voice data protected
| Safeguard | What Phonalyze does |
|---|---|
| Business Associate Agreement | Signed with SLPs, clinics and practices |
| Hosting | HIPAA-compliant server with Atlantic.net, behind a firewall, with routine backups |
| Encryption in transit | SSL encryption on every connection |
| Encryption at rest | Fully encrypted database; names, phone numbers and emails saved as encrypted values |
| Patient links | Encrypted and completely anonymous over the internet |
| No local files | Progressive web app: no downloads or audio files left on devices to manage |
The 12-point buyer’s checklist for voice analysis software
Use this list on any vendor, including us. The first six items are about compliance; the last six are about clinical value.
- Signs a BAA before you enter patient data, and has BAAs with its own hosting providers.
- Encrypts data in transit (SSL/TLS) on every page, upload and link.
- Encrypts data at rest, including patient identifiers, not just audio.
- Hosts on HIPAA-compliant infrastructure, with firewalls and backups.
- Keeps PHI out of patient links and texts. Anonymous links protect patients if a message is forwarded.
- States its breach notification terms. Under HIPAA, a business associate must notify you without unreasonable delay and within 60 days of discovering a breach (45 CFR 164.410).
- Uses a validated analysis engine. Phonalyze processes audio with Praat, the standard in voice research.
- Reports the measures you actually use: CPP/CPPS, AVQI, HNR, jitter, shimmer, pitch, voicing and intensity.
- Includes patient-reported outcomes such as VHI-10, EAT-10, Cough Severity Index, Dyspnea Index and V-RQOL, tracked over time.
- Works remotely and in the room. Remote links for telepractice, live sessions for the clinic.
- Needs no installs for you or your patients, on phones and computers alike.
- Has clear pricing and a real free trial: no credit card, no auto-charge surprises.
Questions to ask any vendor: Will you sign our BAA, or send yours? Where is data hosted? Is the data encrypted at rest? What happens to recordings when we cancel? How fast will you notify us of a breach? If a vendor can’t answer clearly, keep looking.
Voice analysis tool types compared
| Tool type | Remote recording | BAA | Setup | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop research software (e.g., Praat) | No; files must be moved to you | No vendor to sign one; you secure the files yourself | Install, scripts, manual analysis | Free |
| Clinic lab hardware systems | No, in-clinic only | Depends on vendor | Dedicated hardware and training | High up-front cost |
| Consumer recording apps / cloud drives | Yes | Usually not offered | Easy | Free to low |
| Phonalyze (clinical cloud platform) | ✓ Anonymous SMS links | ✓ Signed BAA | Browser only, no installs | $0 for 30 days, then $39/mo |
Praat remains excellent for research and custom analysis. Learn how its output maps to clinical decisions in Interpreting Praat Results Using Phonalyze.
Pricing and the 30-day free trial (no credit card)
Try every Phonalyze feature free for 30 days.
- No credit card, no payment details. We don’t ask for any payment information when you register.
- Nothing is charged automatically. Because we hold no card, nothing renews when the trial ends unless you choose to subscribe.
- Sign the BAA during the trial so you can test with real patients, compliantly.
- Cancel anytime once subscribed; access continues to the end of the billing period.
Free trial
$030 days · individualNo card neededProfessional
$39per month1 clinicianGroup A
$120per monthUp to 3 therapistsGroup B
$400per monthUp to 10 therapistsGroup plans let therapists share a single patient population, which suits voice clinics, ENT practices and university programs.
Start a HIPAA-compliant voice assessment in 5 steps
- Start the free trial. Register in a minute. No credit card or payment information.
- Request and sign your BAA. Email support@phonalyze.com before entering patient data.
- Add a patient and pick tasks. Sustained vowels, maximum phonation time, CAPE-V sentences and surveys such as VHI-10.
- Send the anonymous link. The patient records on their phone or computer in the browser, with no app to install. Or run a live session in clinic.
- Review the report. CPP/CPPS, AVQI, HNR, jitter, shimmer, pitch, voicing and intensity arrive in seconds and are tracked over time.
See a real-world workflow in How Therapists and SLPs Use Phonalyze for Voice Assessment.
HIPAA-compliant voice analysis, free for 30 days
Signed BAA. Encrypted, anonymous patient links. Reports in seconds.
Start free trial — no credit card Try the demoNeed a group plan or a BAA first? support@phonalyze.com
Frequently asked questions
Is Phonalyze HIPAA compliant?
Yes. Phonalyze is hosted on a HIPAA-compliant server with Atlantic.net, uses SSL encryption, stores patient information in encrypted form, sits behind a firewall with routine backups, and sends patients anonymous encrypted links. Phonalyze also signs a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
Does Phonalyze sign a BAA?
Yes. Phonalyze signs a BAA with SLPs, clinics and practices that use it to record or analyze patient voice data. Email support@phonalyze.com to request it.
Do I need a BAA with my voice analysis software vendor?
Yes, if you are a HIPAA covered entity and the vendor creates, receives, stores or transmits PHI for you. HHS says a cloud service storing ePHI is a business associate even if the data is encrypted and the vendor has no key.
Is a patient’s voice recording PHI?
Usually, yes. A recording linked to a patient and their care is health information, and HIPAA lists voice prints as biometric identifiers (45 CFR 164.514(b)(2)).
Is there an official HIPAA certification for software?
No. HHS does not endorse or recognize private “HIPAA certifications”. Look for a signed BAA, encryption in transit and at rest, and HIPAA-compliant hosting.
Does the free trial require a credit card?
No. The individual plan is free for 30 days and we ask for no payment information at sign-up. After the trial, Professional is $39/month and can be cancelled anytime.
How much does voice analysis software for SLPs cost?
From free desktop software like Praat to lab systems costing thousands. Phonalyze is $39/month for one clinician, $120/month for up to 3 therapists and $400/month for up to 10, after a 30-day free trial.
Can I use Phonalyze for telepractice?
Yes. Patients record on their own device through an anonymous link and the analysis runs in the cloud. Phonalyze also supports live, in-clinic sessions.
Related reading
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Guidance on HIPAA & Cloud Computing. hhs.gov
- HHS. FAQ: Are we required to “certify” our organization’s compliance with the standards? hhs.gov
- 45 CFR 160.103 (definition of business associate); 45 CFR 164.502(e) and 164.504(e) (business associate contracts); 45 CFR 164.410 (breach notification by a business associate); 45 CFR 164.514(b)(2) (Safe Harbor identifiers).
- HIPAA Journal. OCR’s COVID-19 telehealth enforcement discretion transition period ends (August 9, 2023). hipaajournal.com
- Phonalyze. Features, security and pricing. phonalyze.com
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Talk to your compliance officer or attorney about your organization’s HIPAA obligations. Questions about Phonalyze? Contact support@phonalyze.com.
— Phonalyze Team