No Evidence That Music Training Benefits Speech Perception in Hearing-Impaired Listeners: A Systematic Review.
Colette M McKay
PMID 33634750WHAT IT FOUND
Across 13 trials, music training did not improve speech perception in people with hearing loss or cochlear implants.
Studies showing benefits lacked proper control groups or used flawed statistics. Do not prescribe music training expecting it to help patients understand speech better.
Key findings
01None of the 13 reviewed papers produced statistically valid evidence that music training improves speech perception in hearing-impaired listeners.
02Studies with rigorous designs, such as randomized controlled trials with active non-music controls, found no significant benefit of music training on speech understanding.
03Many papers claiming benefits failed to use appropriate control groups or relied on within-group comparisons that cannot prove the training caused the improvement.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The review excluded pilot studies, which may have limited the number of available papers but ensured a focus on more established research. The authors did not perform a meta-analysis because the studies were too heterogeneous and underpowered, relying instead on a narrative assessment of design validity. Small sample sizes in the included studies made randomization ineffective in many cases, limiting the certainty of individual study findings even when designs were improved.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that improvements seen in studies without control groups are caused by music training. These gains may result from natural maturation, placebo effects, or increased attention from therapists rather than the music itself.