Abstract
We conducted an experiment using a purposefully designed audio-based game called the Music Puzzle with Japanese university students with different levels of hearing acuity and experience with music in order to determine the effects of these factors on solving such games. A group of hearing-impaired students (n = 12) was compared with two hearing control groups with the additional characteristic of having high (n = 12) or low (n = 12) engagement in musical activities. The game was played with three sound sets or modes; speech, music, and a mix of the two. The results showed that people with hearing loss had longer processing times for sounds when playing the game. Solving the game task in the speech mode was found particularly difficult for the group with hearing loss, and while they found the game difficult in general, they expressed a fondness for the game and a preference for music. Participants with less musical experience showed difficulties in playing the game with musical material. We were able to explain the impacts of hearing acuity and musical experience; furthermore, we can promote this kind of tool as a viable way to train hearing by focused listening to sound, particularly with music.
Highlights
Musical experiences affect persons with hearing loss and hearing persons
Authors and colleagues presented an audio game called the Music Puzzle as well as preliminary results from pilot testing; in the current work, we investigate how hearing acuity and musical experience can impact game-playing achievements
We describe the results of the experiments by comparing the three participant groups in subjective evaluations and the way participants played the game
Summary
Musical experiences affect persons with hearing loss and hearing persons . It is well known that people with hearing impairment listen to music much less. This can be seen, for example, when comparing individuals before and after cochlear implantation [2]. It is established that even people with only mild or moderate hearing impairment exhibit language disorders [3]. In order to increase the likelihood of people with hearing loss having enjoyable listening experiences, we believe that one solution is exposure to activities involving focused listening. Hearing persons focus on the sound itself when they listen to music (musical listening) while they pay attention to the source or the situation of the sound (everyday listening) [4].
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