The use of this technology in the insurance industry is becoming more widespread and has had success. A London organization, the Harrow Council, has been using it in their claim and fraud units and has accomplished a lot of success. Because of it, the British government plans to implement layered voice analysis in organizations across the country to fight fraud. One large auto insurance company in the U.S. has also used the technology with marked success, implementing it in SIU investigations of false claims.

The success of this unique tool as a deterrent is based on its unique nature. Technologies such as the computer voice stress analyzer (CVSA) and polygraph machines are often compared to it, despite the fact that they are fundamentally different. Both CVSA and polygraphs measure stress in the voice, and determine from that stress whether the subject is lying or not. Both of these technologies work by using closed-ended questions that require “yes” or “no” answers. Many factors not related to deception can induce stress, making the determination of truthfulness based purely on stress very unreliable.

Layered voice analysis is a tool used in a different manner than the other technologies — and it achieves a different end result. While CVSA and polygraphs measure physiological stress, layered voice analysis measures many different psychological attributes. It is based on brain activity that is captured through the human voice box, which is used as the medium, displaying the attributes with the frequencies that are put out. This brain activity is separated into 129 different parameters determined using innovative mathematical algorithms.

These parameters point the trained user in the direction of the deception. This tool is used with open-ended questions and can be used over the phone or in a live interview. The interview can then be saved as a recording and separated into relevant segments. These segments are then put into offline mode, where a deeper analysis is done using the information deemed as vital. It also allows the user to re-evaluate the interview to form more significant lines of questioning for another interview. This process lets investigators pinpoint areas of concern, allowing them to discover new areas to investigate or reach a decision that the subject has no guilty knowledge.

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In recent years, there have been numerous studies on the accuracy of layered voice analysis, CVSA, and polygraph machines. One study is currently near completion. Dr. Michael Adler conducted this double-blind study on the use of polygraph and layered voice analysis on convicted criminal subjects. Each tool was used according to the manufacturer's instructions. The abstract of the study reveals the ability of the latter to pick up on the subject's deceptions with no inconclusive results. In contrast, the polygraph had several inconclusive results. An important factor in this study was the ability of the investigator to pick up on many issues revealed in the readings that were not revealed by any other technology.

There are few tools — outside of intuition and investigative prowess — available to assess risk and minimize the amount of money paid out because of fraudulent claims. This is the only technology that can be used over the phone or in person in real time. It can be used in any language by both claim specialists and investigators in the special investigations units. It reconfirms what the specialists and investigators may already suspect, adding an additional red flag to a suspicious claim.

In today's economy, it is becoming increasingly important to eliminate wasteful spending. While insurance companies cannot afford to lose money to fraud, they also cannot afford to withhold money from those with valid claims. With the use of smart, innovative technologies, it is possible to assess risk, pay legitimate claims in a timely fashion, and dramatically reduce the money spent on fraudulent claims.