Music Training for Children With Sensorineural Hearing Loss Improves Speech-in-Noise Perception
Publication: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 63, Number 6
Pages 1990-2015
Abstract
Purpose
A growing body of evidence suggests that long-term music training provides benefits to auditory abilities for typical-hearing adults and children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how music training may provide perceptual benefits (such as speech-in-noise, spectral resolution, and prosody) for children with hearing loss.
Method
Fourteen children aged 6–9 years with prelingual sensorineural hearing loss using bilateral cochlear implants, bilateral hearing aids, or bimodal configuration participated in a 12-week music training program, with nine participants completing the full testing requirements of the music training. Activities included weekly group-based music therapy and take-home music apps three times a week. The design was a pseudorandomized, longitudinal study (half the cohort was wait-listed, initially serving as a passive control group prior to music training). The test battery consisted of tasks related to music perception, music appreciation, and speech perception. As a comparison, 16 age-matched children with typical hearing also completed this test battery, but without participation in the music training.
Results
There were no changes for any outcomes for the passive control group. After music training, perception of speech-in-noise, question/statement prosody, musical timbre, and spectral resolution improved significantly, as did measures of music appreciation. There were no benefits for emotional prosody or pitch perception.
Conclusion
The findings suggest even a modest amount of music training has benefits for music and speech outcomes. These preliminary results provide further evidence that music training is a suitable complementary means of habilitation to improve the outcomes for children with hearing loss.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
Volume 63 • Number 6 • June 2020
Pages: 1990-2015
PubMed: 32543961
Copyright
Copyright © 2020 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
History
- Received: Dec 15, 2019
- Revised: Feb 27, 2020
- Accepted: Mar 20, 2020
- Published online: Jun 16, 2020
- Published in issue: Jun 22, 2020
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