The Influence of Music Tempo and Mode on Hearing Performance in Noise

This study examined the impact of music tempo and mode on hearing performance, hypothesizing that listening to happy music (fast tempo, major mode) would improve hearing performance in noise.

Sixty-three normal-hearing subjects aged 18-35 years were included. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: happy music, sad music, or control (no music). The happy music group listened to fast-tempo music (> 120 beats per minute [bpm]) in the major mode, whereas the sad music group listened to slow-tempo music (< 80 bpm) in the minor mode. The control group did not listen to music. The Hearing in Noise Test (HINT) and the Audible Contrast Threshold (ACT) test were administered before and immediately after the music tracks. Speech reception thresholds under different HINT conditions (noise front, noise right, and noise left) and audible contrast thresholds from the ACT test were determined and compared.

Both HINT and ACT test results differed significantly across groups depending on music tempo and mode. Post hoc analyses revealed a significant improvement in performance on the HINT noise front, HINT noise right, and ACT after listening to happy music. In contrast, a significant decline in the HINT noise-left performance was observed after listening to sad music.

The findings indicate that listening to fast-tempo music in the major mode can positively affect hearing performance in noise. Furthermore, the results highlight the potential importance of incorporating music and music-based programs into auditory-cognitive development and rehabilitation.