Health apps developed by speech therapist inspired by Parkinson’s patient included in new app library
‘Swallow Prompt’ and ‘Voice Analyst’ by Speechtools are two of the apps included in the new dedicated apps and devices library launched by Parkinson’s UK, supported by Our Mobile Health, to help individuals living with Parkinson’s to manage their condition.
Thorough review process tested every aspect of the apps
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To ensure the apps and devices included in the new library could be recommended with confidence to members of their community, Parkinson’s UK chose Our Mobile Health as their partner to assess apps wishing to be included in the library, using their robust and industry recognised review process.
The Our Mobile Health review process examines an app against ten core areas including technical stability, privacy and security, safety, clinical effectiveness and user experience and accessibility. Only apps that meet all the required criteria will pass review. Once successfully reviewed by Our Mobile Health, Parkinson’s UK then applied a second review process, this time using their reviewer panel comprising individuals of all ages from across the UK, all living with Parkinson’s. These individuals tested the apps and devices in a ‘real world’ setting, and provided their honest feedback, which was also shared with the app developers.
A library of trustworthy apps and devices
The review process was in-depth, and required significant commitment and input from all parties involved, to ensure that the new library contains trustworthy apps and devices that are relevant and safe to use by individuals living with Parkinson’s to help them manage their condition.
Emma Lawton, Devices and Apps Lead, Parkinson’s UK explains the value of the process: “It was essential for Parkinson’s UK to have a strong voice in this rapidly growing area of apps and devices, and that we can confidently provide the right advice and direct individuals to apps and devices that are safe and effective to use”. |
Voice Analyst App
“Our Mobile Health has been open and honest with us from the start, and whenever we had any questions they always responded swiftly. The whole process has applied high standards of assessment from a technical, health and patient perspective.”
- Sam Brady, Speech and Language Therapist & co-founder of Speechtools “Having our app’s data privacy and GDPR compliance reviewed
independently has been incredibly valuable for us. It’s enabled us to guarantee to our users that we value their privacy and will never gather any personal data without clearly explaining why and also asking for their consent.” - Garry Brady, Software Engineer & co-founder of Speechtools |
As experienced app developers, Sam and Garry agree with the value of the process as they can clearly see the benefits for all. They explain:
“It has been so useful to go through an independent review process and it has made our apps even better. It would be great for other medical apps to go through this process and focus group feedback for other medical conditions. We would advise other health app developers to work with Our Mobile Health to have their apps rigorously reviewed”.
“It has been so useful to go through an independent review process and it has made our apps even better. It would be great for other medical apps to go through this process and focus group feedback for other medical conditions. We would advise other health app developers to work with Our Mobile Health to have their apps rigorously reviewed”.
About Speechtools
Speechtools was created by husband and wife team, Garry and Sam Brady.They were inspired by a patient of Sam’s, a speech therapist, who had Parkinson’s to create their first app back in 2011.
She noticed the patient spoke at a fast rate and Sam wanted to trial delayed auditory feedback (DAF) to see if they could speak more slowly and be clearer to understand. The technology though was bulky and expensive.
Garry, a software engineer, decided to apply his skills to recreate the required technology in a more compact form using the emerging capabilities around mobile phones. Their first app was created. They now have five apps being used across 170 countries, and they are delighted that two of them have made the grade, successfully passing review by Our Mobile Health to be added to the new Parkinson’s UK apps and devices library.
Visit their website: Speechtools
She noticed the patient spoke at a fast rate and Sam wanted to trial delayed auditory feedback (DAF) to see if they could speak more slowly and be clearer to understand. The technology though was bulky and expensive.
Garry, a software engineer, decided to apply his skills to recreate the required technology in a more compact form using the emerging capabilities around mobile phones. Their first app was created. They now have five apps being used across 170 countries, and they are delighted that two of them have made the grade, successfully passing review by Our Mobile Health to be added to the new Parkinson’s UK apps and devices library.
Visit their website: Speechtools
If you're an App Developer find out more about our process and current calls for apps
Alternatively, contact us to discuss your app and how we can help you:
E-mail us at hello@ourmobilehealth.com
Call us on 0203 858 0864
Alternatively, contact us to discuss your app and how we can help you:
E-mail us at hello@ourmobilehealth.com
Call us on 0203 858 0864
