You Won't Believe How Beatboxing Can Help With Language Skills
Icht, M. (2019). Introducing the Beatalk technique: using beatbox sounds and rhythms to improve speech characteristics of adults with intellectual disability. International journal of language & communication disorders 54(3), 401–416. Retrieved from http://www.michal-icht.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Icht_2018_Beatalk_ID.pdf
Gimme a beat! This article explores how beatboxing, in addition to being culturally relevant and fun, can also improve speech, particularly in adults with differing intellectual ability.
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Overview
Twelve adults with below average intellectual functioning participated in a speech therapy group for 6 weeks using the techniques of beatboxing. Assessment after the treatment showed improvement to speech intelligibility.
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So what?
Beatalk is a speech therapy method using beatboxing, or the imitation of percussion with the vocal instrument, to aid in articulation. Michal Icht reports that this technique yielded greater gains than traditional sessions involving repetition of vowel, consonant, and word repetition. The participants showed improvement in articulation accuracy and loudness. There was also a high engagement with the enjoyable nature of the activities.
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Mojo's Riff
Beatboxing, as we currently think of it, has its roots in hip hop music. As educators increasingly use hip hop culture as a part of culturally relevant teaching, they can find ways to apply popular culture to the deepening of other skills.