Music and Hearing Loss

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Aims of this Website 

Information from research and people with hearing loss about optimizing music:  

• How hearing loss affects music listening and music making

• How hearing devices (cochlear implants, hearing aids) affect music perception and enjoyment

  • CI=cochlear implants

  • HA=hearing aids

• Tips for optimizing experiences with music 

• Tips to improve conversations in background music

• Tips for coping, self-efficacy and self-advocacy

• Prevention of music-induced hearing loss

Who is this website for?  

• People with hearing loss and their families 

• Hearing professionals 

• Musicians who wish to protect their hearing

• Music therapists who work with people with hearing loss

Why is music and hearing loss important? 

Music is all around us, from cradle to grave.

• Music affects how we feel: People use music to relax, to change their mood, or for entertainment. 

• Music connects us with our cultures and beliefs. Music is part of cultural, spiritual, community,  and familial traditions.

• Music connects us with others.  Participating in music with one's family and friends can increase social connection and quality of life.

• Music brings back memories. Music can remind us of important experiences in our lives. 

• Music is a common part of everyday life.  Music is often heard in the home and community, thus people with hearing loss are likely to encounter music every day. 

• Music can be used to improve listening skills. Music training can contribute to rehabilitation for improving CI benefit.

Hearing loss can impair music enjoyment, and reduce the quality of life. 

• Music listening can be less pleasant.   

• Music-making can be difficult. 

• Hearing conversation against background music can be frustrating. 

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How is this website organized? 

• Music-induced Hearing Loss

  • Information for musicians

    • Music making and hearing loss: Information for musicians on preventing or managing hearing loss

    • Music-Induced Hearing Loss: Loud Concerts, Musicians and Hearing Loss for Musicians and Families

  • Information for audiologists

    • Music making and hearing loss

    • Music-induced hearing loss

• Music and Hearing Preservation

  • Musician health and safety

  • Sound awareness and safety

  • Considerations and Tips for Hearing Conservation: Information for Musicians

• Music and Coping with Hearing Loss

  • Information for people with hearing loss and their families

    • Emotional and social losses that accompany the loss of musical enjoyment

    • Self-efficacy: coping with hearing loss and stress

    • Optimizing music experiences through self-advocacy

  • Information for audiologists

    • Emotional and social losses that accompany the loss of musical enjoyment

    • The five stages of grief: from denial to acceptance

    • The transtheoretical model: Readiness for change

    • Self-efficacy and coping with hearing loss and stress

    • Optimizing music experiences through self-advocacy

• Cochlear Implant (CI) and Music

  • Information for CI users and their families

    • Cochlear Implant (CI) technology and music

    • Different musical sounds affect listening enjoyment of CI users

    • The listening environment and music enjoyment

    • Background music as a barrier to communication

    • Musicians with CIs

    • Assistive listening devices for CI users

    • Music training to improve music perception and appraisal

    • Decision Trees for CI users

      • Planning for Enjoyment of Music Listening at Home

      • Planning for Listening Enjoyment at a Concert

      • Planning for Enjoyment at a Restaurant

  • Information for audiologists

    • Cochlear Implant (CI) technology and music

    • Evaluating music perception of CI users

    • Optimizing music listening of CI users: a dynamic and multivariate process

    • The listening environment and music enjoyment

    • Background music as a barrier to communication

    • Musicians with CIs

    • Music training to improve music perception and appraisal

    • Music training examples for improving music perception

• Hearing Aid (HA) and Music

  • Information for HA users and their families

    • Hearing aid (HA) and music: limitations

    • Tips for listening to music through hearing aids (HAs)

    • Background music as a barrier to communication

    • Musicians who use hearing aids

    • Assistive listening devices for HA users

    • Decision Trees for HA users

      • Planning for Enjoyment of Music Listening at Home

      • Planning for Listening Enjoyment at a Concert

      • Planning for Enjoyment at a Restaurant

  • Information for audiologists

    • Hearing Aid (HA) technology and music: limitations and problem solving strategies

    • Background music as a barrier to communication

    • Musicians with Hearing Aids (HAs)

• Information for Music Therapists Who Work with Persons with Hearing Loss

  • Essential Knowledge and Consideration for Music Therapy Practice

  • Strategies and accommodations to enhance musical and verbal communication

• Resources on Music, Hearing Loss, and Hearing Devices

  • ​Articles on Music, Hearing Loss, and Hearing Devices 

  • Resources on Pediatric Cochlear Implant Users and Music

  • Image Reference Page for This Website

• About Us | Music and Hearing Loss Team

The top of webpages are marked with the following color-coded icons, which indicate the intended reader:  

As you read this website, keep in mind the following:

• No people with hearing loss are exactly alike. 

  • ​Some information may be more applicable.

  • Pick and choose the information most useful for you.

• The word, ‘music’ refers to many different kinds of sounds.

  • Some music may be easier to understand and more pleasant for YOU. 

  • Music changes minute by minute; how good the music sounds may also change.  

  • Use trial and error to figure out what sounds best to you.

• This website contains information based upon research studies.

  • Research studies often emphasize “average” outcomes. 

    • Your personal experience may be different from average—for better or for worse.

• There is not a single or easy solution to ‘fixing’ musical enjoyment.

  • Different approaches help, depending upon the individual, the type of music, and the listening situation.  

  • Most cochlear implant users say that

    • restoring musical enjoyment requires effort over time, 

    • you need realistic expectations—music won't sound just like it did before hearing loss.

    •  some music and listening environments are better than others. 

Suggested readings:

Click on the links below to access the articles: 

Gfeller, K., Driscoll, V., & Schwalje, A. (2019). Adult cochlear implant recipients’ perspectives on experiences with music in everyday life: A multifaceted and dynamic phenomenon. Front. Neurosci., 13, 1-19.

Gfeller, K., Mallalieu, R. M., Mansouri, AL., McCormick, G., O’Connell, R. B., Spinowitz, J., & Turner, B. G. (2019). Practices and attitudes that enhance music engagement of adult cochlear implant users. Front. Neurosci, 13, 1-11.

Gfeller, K., Veltman, J., Mandara, R., Napoli, M. B., Smith, S., Choi, Y., ... & Nastase, A. (2022). Technological and Rehabilitative Concerns: Perspectives of Cochlear Implant Recipients Who Are Musicians. Trends in Hearing, 26. 

Click on these links for more information about hearing loss:

• Basic information about hearing loss and speech

• Detailed descriptions of cochlear implants and how they work

• Surgery for cochlear implants  

• Information about pediatric habilitation and music

  • NOTE: Currently, there are more websites available about pediatric habilitation. Therefore, we are currently focusing this website on adult CI users. 

Click here if you wish to access some basic sources on pediatric CI users and music.

Click here to review references used in preparation of this website. 

1. All images on this website are used under Creative Commons or other licenses or have been created by the website developers.

2. Click here to access the sources of images on this page. 

+ Acknowledgment: The development of this website was supported in part by a Community Impact Grant from the University of Iowa's Office of Outreach & Engagement.