There’s Music in Your Soul – Don’t Let Your Ears Miss Out

Not everyone in the world is a music lover, but very few people in the world would say they’re music haters.

There’s a reason for that. Music engages us deeply because it activates almost the entire brain, from the auditory cortex, to our memory and motor systems.¹

Here are some tips on how to enjoy your favourite tunes, however you like listening to them.

Hearing and Music

The first thing to note is that hearing aids can improve music enjoyment for people with hearing loss.² Interestingly, there seems to be little correlation between word recognition scores and music enjoyment – music really does speak to the soul.

Hi-Fi Tips

Improving your listening experience is easy, regardless of whether you have an expensive Hi-Fi or a portable Bluetooth speaker. The key principle is that your room is as important as your system.
If your room has too many hard, flat surfaces, you’ll get ‘reflections’ that reduce sound quality. Add bookshelves, furniture, rugs, pictures and cushions to break up and absorb sound waves. 
Pull your speakers out from the wall to avoid reflections, and place them so they form an equilateral triangle with your listening position. 
Many speakers can also be optimised from ‘toe-in’, where they’re angled slightly inwards, so they point at the listening position. The effect varies from speaker to speaker, so it’s worth experimenting.³ 

Headphone Tips

Headphones give a different listening experience and have one advantage over speakers – they ‘remove the room’. For listeners with hearing loss, noise-cancelling headphones can further assist by removing background distractions. 
Contact between a headphone’s pads and a hearing aid’s microphone can cause interference, so you may need to try on a few different styles of headphones (including on-ear, over-the-ear or bone conduction) to see what works best for you.⁴ 
If you’re an ‘audiophile’, you can use EQ (equalisation) to optimise your Hi-Fi or headphone sound. For the majority of us, however, the best option is to use the tips above. 
Don't compromise on the joy of music - contact your local Connect Hearing clinic to learn more on how to protect your ears so that you can keep enjoying your favourite tunes for years to come.

References:

1. Harvard Health Publishing (7 October 2020) Why is music good for the brain?, Harvard Medical School, accessed 20 February 2024. 

2. The Hearing Journal (January 2024) Improving Music Appreciation and Enjoyment in Hearing Aid Users, The Hearing Journal, accessed 20 February 2024. 

3. In Sheep’s Clothing Hi-Fi (27 May 2021) Intro to Hi-fi Audio: Speaker Placement & Room Treatment Basics, In Sheep’s Clothing, accessed 20 February 2024. 

4. Audiophiles (17 August 2023) How to Use Headphones with Hearing Aids?, Audiophiles, accessed 20 February 2024.