Longitudinal Assessment of Music Enjoyment in Hearing Aid Users Based on Music Listening Preferences.

Abstract

Objective: Hearing loss is associated with deterioration of music enjoyment that can be mitigated with hearing aids (HAs). In this study, we assess HA users' music enjoyment and listening habits over time.

Study design: Longitudinal.

Setting: Tertiary academic medical center and community.

Methods: Adult HA users reported music listening habits and music enjoyment using 10-point Likert scales and underwent a melody discernment listening task, once in 2020 and again in 2023. Paired t-tests were used to compare individuals' responses across time points, and unpaired t-tests were performed to juxtapose participants who preferred music sound quality with HAs ("prefer HA") versus without ("prefer unaided").

Results: Forty-three HA users participated, with an average (SD) of 24.3 (18.3) years of HA use as of 2023. Despite an increase in pure tone average from 2020 to 2023 (47.2-52.6, P < .001), there was no significant change in time spent listening to music, overall music enjoyment, or melody discernment ability. In 2023, the "prefer unaided" group reported worse music enjoyment with HAs (5.7 vs 7.5, P = .022) and higher music enjoyment before their HL diagnosis (9.7 vs 7.6, P = .007); they also spent less time listening to music (4.0 vs 5.4, P = .038). Similar differences were also observed in 2020.

Conclusion: In individual HA users, worsening hearing over time may not translate to changes in music enjoyment or listening habits. However, HA users with higher levels of music enjoyment before HL diagnosis are more dissatisfied with aided music listening and spend less time listening to music.