# Using Hearing Aids for Music: A UK Survey of Challenges and Strategies

## TL;DR

A survey of UK hearing aid users found that while hearing aids help with music, they often cause sound distortion, especially in loud settings.

## Contribution

This study provides insights into how hearing aid users adapt to music listening challenges and highlights the need for better music-specific signal processing.

## Key findings

- Hearing aids often cause distortion and poor sound quality in loud or live music settings.
- Only a third of users reported using a music program, with mixed effectiveness.
- Users commonly remove their hearing aids to reduce distortion during music listening.

## Abstract

Hearing aids, which are primarily designed to improve the intelligibility of speech, can negatively affect the perception and enjoyment of music. This large-scale survey study, conducted between 2016 and 2018, explored hearing aid use and preference behavior in both recorded and live music listening settings, aiming to understand the challenges and strategies used by listeners to improve their experiences, and how these may be affected by level of hearing loss (HL). One thousand five hundred and seven hearing aid users (mean age = 60 years) completed an online survey about their music listening behavior and use of hearing aids. Results showed that whilst hearing aids support engagement in music listening, they also present many issues and overall helpfulness is mixed. The most commonly reported issue was distortion and poor sound quality, particularly in loud or live contexts. The most frequently reported strategy for reducing distortion was to remove hearing aids altogether. Only a third of the sample reported using a music program and effectiveness was mixed, suggesting that manufacturer music programs do not currently provide significant benefits for music listening, and further research into the use, uptake and efficacy of music programs is needed. We call for further research into signal processing strategies for music especially for high sound levels such as live music or concert settings. The positive impact of mindsets supporting proactive behaviors, perseverance, adaptation, and experimentation with different technologies, genres, and listening environments was highlighted, strengthening the evidence base for audiologists to provide music listening guidance in the clinic.