Apple Music 'saylists' to help with speech issues

Dua Lipa's hit Don't Start Now is among 173 selected by the algorithm

"Saylists" are being launched on Apple Music to help young people with speech-sound disorders.

The project, from Warner Music, uses algorithms to find song lyrics that repeat challenging sounds.

The 173 tracks chosen so far include Dua Lipa's Don't Start Now, Lizzo's Good As Hell and Right Here, Fatboy Slim's Right Now.

One in 12 children in the UK is believed to experience some form of speech-sound disorder (SSD).

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists chief executive Kamini Gadhok told BBC News: "We're always pleased to hear about innovative approaches that support speech-and-language therapists in their work.

"As with all new techniques and tools, we recommend effective evaluation and monitoring of outcomes."

It is hoped the songs will be a more fun way to engage children with improving speech

One of the most successful therapeutic strategies for children with SSD is repeating challenging sounds, such as

• "ch..."

• "d..."

• "f..."

• "g..."

• "k..."

• "l..."

• "r..."

• "s..."

• "t..."

• "z..."

And, using the algorithm, Apple Music analysed the lyrics of the 70 million tracks in its catalogue to choose those that repeated them most often.

Stammering affects about 1.5 million adults across the UK - but it is remains unclear why many develop the condition.

'Therapeutic tool'

In a recent documentary, BBC producer Felicity Baker talked about living with the condition and spoke to some high-profile people with a stammer, including a rapper who found music helped.

US President Joe Biden has also spoken about how his stutter helped him empathise with others.

Speech-and-language therapist Anna Biavati-Smith, who worked with Warner Music and Rothco on the project, said: "Saylists provide a fun new way to practise the sounds I teach children, without feeling pressured or getting bored."

Warner Music chief executive Tony Harlow said: "Helping people express themselves is at the heart of what we do - and we hope that by creating a therapeutic tool that's as engaging and accessible as saylists, we can help anyone whose struggling with their speech."