How Music Training Improves Your Hearing

The Hearing Journal recently featured an article discussing research that demonstrates improved auditory skills and speech-in-noise recognition among those with musical training. Research indicates that certain aspects of musical training improve an individual's ability to process speech, particularly in noisy environments. Highlights of the research include the following findings quoted directly from The Hearing Journal article:

• Young adults with even a limited period of music training in the form of lessons or participation in music activities at school have more robust brainstem responses to complex sounds than young adults who haven't had any musical experience (J Neurosci 2012;32[34]:11507)
• Older musicians do not have the same brainstem timing delays in their speech-evoked responses that older nonmusicians do (Neurbiol Aging 2012;33[7]:1483.e1)
• Adults age 60 to 85 without previous musical experience exhibited improved processing speed and memory after just three months of weekly 30-minute piano lessons and three hours a week of practice, whereas the control group showed no changes in these abilities (Aging Ment Health 2007;11[4]:464)

While becoming a professional musician is not possible for every individual, clearly there are real benefits to musical training. For more information on the research referenced above, click here.



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