Medical Narration

Medical voiceover is one of the most specialized areas of narration. It involves highly technical industry-specific terminology. The appropriate tone can shift quite a bit depending on who the audience is and the purpose of the video:

• Doctors and Nurses. A voice actor should approach medical lingo with the same fluency as the intended audience. Names of medical symptoms, conditions, and medications can be presented simply and easily, at the same pace as the rest of the text; these listeners are already familiar with what you’re talking about. You’re simply broadening their knowledge. A friendly but professional tone is the most-requested approach.

• Pharmaceutical Reps. Any time a new drug is released, biomedical companies produce training information for the reps who will be introducing it to doctors. They describe the FDA approval process, results of efficacy testing, known side effects, how this new drug compares side-by-side with older options, potential interactions, and other vital information that doctors must understand before being willing to prescribe the medication to their patients. These training packages are frequently presented in an upbeat, encouraging, engaging, and friendly way, just as the pharma reps will present the information to medical professionals.

• Fair Balance. This is the list of potential side effects and drug interactions all advertisements for medication are required to include. In commercials and promotional videos it’s the long recitation of “may cause high blood pressure, heart palpitations, difficulty swallowing, or the sensation of turning into a rhinoceros.” (OK, that last one isn’t real.) We voice talent have a bit of a competition going on to see who can reel these symptoms off in the most relaxed, casual way. Without accidentally sounding happy when we say “risk of sudden death,” of course.

• ISI (Important Safety Information). This is the most purely technical type of medical narration. Any video presenting the benefits of a medication is required to include the full FDA Safety Information at the end - which can often be longer than the presentation itself! The trick here is to gain mastery of the terminology so that it can flow effortlessly and smoothly. The overall tone of ISI is usually straightforward and professional - friendly without too much of a smile. As you’ll see in the video examples below the text of the ISI scrolls on the screen along with the narration.

• Patients. When someone begins a new type of chemotherapy or insulin or daily asthma treatment that will be administered at home, the patient is often provided with a helpful video along with written instructions. Encouragement and empathy are key for these videos: being sent home with a strong medication can be unnerving. It’s important to convey that everything will be fine. They can do this.

• Standardized Patient Training. Voice actors are hired to “become” a patient. It’s vital to sound like you’re coming up with the words spontaneously. You’re often telling a real story from a real case history so that doctors can learn about the various ways symptoms might present.