Music is an enjoyable outlet for most people regardless of their age. Studies also show that it can be crucial in children’s cognitive and social-emotional development. A study from the NAMM Foundation found children who listen to or study music typically have a better and more expanded vocabulary, better reading skills, higher test scores, and improved school attendance compared to those who do not.
Challenges for Children with Hearing Loss
There is a misconception that we only enjoy music by hearing it; that is untrue. We also experience music in other ways because, at its core, music is waves that cause vibrations. This means anyone with hearing loss, including children, can perceive music through its vibrations.
However, this still does not solve the challenge of not being able to hear music. Teachers, parents, and guardians have tried several interventions over the decade, but none work apart from hearing aids.
Hearing aids are much more than a way for children to experience speech and communication. They are also crucial tools for helping them enjoy other aspects of the world, including music.
Fortunately, the technology behind hearing aids has come so far that there are now numerous options for children with hearing loss. Before getting a child hearing aids, though, their parents or guardians should bring them to an audiologist to get their hearing tested. This is the best way of ensuring they get the best hearing aids for their level and type of hearing loss.
Support Through Tailored Music Experiences
Every child is different, so they will not enjoy the same music another child will. Parents, teachers, and guardians must have plans in place to expose children to as many types of appropriate music as possible to help them pick the ones that resonate best with them.
Experts also say that adults should choose music with clear rhythms and limited overlapping instruments. Doing this is especially important for children who are just getting used to their hearing aids. Such music is much more forgiving and easier for them to follow along.
Clear rhythms and instrumentals also help children with hearing loss better separate and differentiate between instruments and music genres. Anything that muddies their ability to do so will be detrimental to helping them with music-based therapy and will reduce the effectiveness of using music to support them.
These tailored musical experiences can also include plans for helping children understand and appreciate music through vibration. Different music genres have different bass levels and therefore different vibrations. Children can learn how to differentiate between them through their vibrations, and it is often up to the parent, guardian, or teacher to help them through these explorations.
Adding Visual and Tactile Elements
Studies show the other senses of people with hearing or other impairments are typically better tuned and more sensitive. This means including tactile and visual elements in the selection and enjoyment of music for children with hearing loss can be a positive exercise.
Once an adult has established a basis of understanding music through sound for children with hearing aids and vibrations for those without them, they can utilize visual and tactile elements to further enhance their music experiences. These can include visual representations of music or even light shows.
Tactile surfaces like tables and other surfaces that vibrate sufficiently can also become important tools for these exercises.
Lastly, adults can introduce children with hearing loss to music visualization software and apps. While these options can be an excellent way for them to introduce music to the children, they can also be an additional way to help with visualizing and understanding it.
Exploring Musical Instruments
Another excellent way of supporting children with hearing loss is through introducing them to different musical instruments. There is no right or wrong instrument for a child with hearing loss to play or enjoy, just like there is no right or wrong music genre as long as it is appropriate.
However, there are some things parents, teachers, and guardians should keep in mind. One of the most important is choosing the right instruments for the type of healing loss a child has.
Children with conductive hearing loss that affects the perception of the volume of sound will appreciate percussion and string instruments like drums and guitars a lot more.
Sensorineural hearing loss affects both volume and pitch perception, so children with this type of hearing loss are more likely to enjoy percussion, keyboard, and wind instruments. However, adults should ensure these instruments are not too loud because that can cause additional damage.
Adults should allow children to try different instruments, consider their physical abilities, and go with one that can be adapted or modified for children with different types of hearing loss.
Altering Music Education Strategies
Some studies show that how many schools teach music is not conducive for kids with hearing loss or impairment. Many teachers assume each child can perceive music the same, and we have seen above that this is not true.
It is, therefore, important for educators to adapt traditional music lessons to allow for the complete participation of children with hearing loss. One way of doing this is tailoring lessons so they can focus on each child’s strength. While this can be challenging, especially for classes with many children, the endeavor is worth it to make sure each child receives the support they deserve.
Another strategy that works is incorporating music and dance. Body movements can be a great way of internalizing rhythm and tempo as well as allowing children to have a much better and deeper appreciation of different types of music.
Lastly, educators should consider using color-coded notations for different instruments, notes, and pitches. This will make it much easier for children with hearing loss to follow along and make the experience a lot more beneficial for them.
Music is an important part of many cultures, and studies done in recent years show that it is also crucial for different aspects of children’s development. Unfortunately, some children cannot participate in music programs due to hearing loss. That said, there are many things educators, guardians, and parents can do to support them. It takes a bit of work to ensure each child receives the support they deserve, but the takeaways and experiences they walk away with are always worth it.
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