Exploring the impact of hearing loss through music, irony, and rhythm

Abstract

Hearing loss is associated with challenges such as listening in noise, misinterpreting emotion, distorted music perception, and poorer quality of life outcomes relative to hearing peers. Despite this, research examining perceptual abilities for individuals with hearing loss has overwhelmingly focussed on measuring a narrow representation of speech perception. These typically include tasks ranging from the perception of simple words-in-quiet to more complex speech-in-noise. However, the full range of human communication extends far beyond this. In this talk, we will present several studies exploring topics that extend beyond traditional and contemporary approaches to perception. First, a music training study for children with hearing loss that enhanced both speech and psychosocial outcomes. Second, a paralinguistic study examining irony comprehension in children with hearing loss. Finally, an examination of rhythm and speech correlates for older adults with hearing aids, and how this can inform the focus of future intervention studies. Findings from these studies underscore the importance of extending our focus beyond traditional perceptual outcomes.