International Consortium Establishes Framework for Vocal Biomarkers in Health Technology
An international consortium has developed the first consensus-based framework for vocal biomarkers, aiming to standardize terminology and classification in health technology applications. This initiative, involving 24 experts from Europe and North America, addresses the inconsistent use of terms like 'voice,' 'speech,' and 'vocal' biomarkers. The framework distinguishes between unvalidated vocal measures and validated vocal biomarkers, which are crucial for disease diagnosis and monitoring. This effort is part of the VOCAL initiative, which seeks to create a shared scientific vocabulary to enhance collaboration among clinicians, engineers, and regulators, ultimately facilitating the clinical validation and regulatory approval of voice-based health technologies. 
