An Investigative Study: The Effect of Hearing Impairment on Musical Aptitude

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Abstract
Little attention has been given to the study of music perception and the hearing impaired. As a result, music education programs for the hearing impaired have been based on intuition and perhaps inappropriate generalizations from music education programs for normal hearing children. The present exploratory study investigated the way in which hearing impaired children perceive tonal and rhythmic music. The primary Measures of Music Audiation (PMMA), a music aptitude test for young children, was individually administered to hearing impaired children, Grades 1–3 (N = 28), through a portable audiometer at 35 dB above subjects' speech reception threshold. The PMMA data were analyzed via a post hoc comparison of means, standard deviations, test reliability, standard error of measurement, and standard error of a difference representing normal hearing children and those of the hearing impaired sample. Data suggested that hearing impairment may adversely affect music perception and consequently musical aptitude. Despite these findings, hearing impaired children should not be excluded from participation in music education activities. Suggestions are given for ways music educators and therapists may adapt and program for the special needs of their hearing impaired students.

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