The Effect of Music Therapy on Speech Processing in Hearing Aid Users

Document Type : Original article

Authors

1 Department of Audiology, Student Research Committee, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Audiology, School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

10.32598/SJRM.14.5.3326

Abstract

Background and Aims Various aspects and characteristics of hearing aid performance can be enhanced using music. Binaural hearing also plays a crucial role in speech perception in the presence of noise. This study used music, tests, and a questionnaire related to speech perception in noise to investigate the effect of listening to music on speech perception in the presence of noise in bilateral and unilateral hearing aid users.
Methods This study included 40 bilateral and unilateral hearing aid users aged 25-55 years (23 women, 17 men). The quick speech-in-noise (Q-SIN) test and speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale questionnaire (SSQ) were used to investigate the effects of music on speech perception in the presence of noise.
Results The results of the Q-SIN test in both groups showed that music reduced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) 50 and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss, which was more pronounced in the bilateral hearing aid users (P<0.05). The results of the SSQ also showed that the questionnaire score increased after the three-month music therapy. This increase in score was greater in bilateral hearing aid users (P<0.05).
Conclusion Regular listening to music on a program basis improves speech perception in noise. The results of the present study showed that bilateral hearing aids had a greater effect on improving speech perception in noise than unilateral hearing aids.

Keywords

Main Subjects

The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume 14, Issue 5
November and December 2025
Pages 720-735

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 10 January 2025
  • Revise Date: 28 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 06 August 2025
  • First Publish Date: 06 August 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics