Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42464529›Full record

ArticleOtolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery2026

Characterizing Music Engagement and Reward in Individuals Across a Spectrum of Hearing Loss and Rehabilitation.

Emily Gao, Maria Armache, Joon Soo Kim, Celine Arar, Elaine C Thompson, Claire Wang, Marshall Chasin, Theodore R McRackan, Alexander Chern

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Article in Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Emily GaoDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0003-4193-8775
Maria ArmacheDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Joon Soo KimDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Celine ArarDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Elaine C ThompsonDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Claire WangJohns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Marshall ChasinSchool of Communication Disorders and Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
Theodore R McRackanDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.
Alexander ChernDepartment of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2757-1869

Funding

American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Health Services Research GrantAmerican Neurotology Society Research Grant
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveHearing aids (HAs) and cochlear implants (CIs) improve speech perception for individuals with hearing loss (HL), yet their impact on music outcomes remains unclear. We examined music perception, engagement, and reward in a large cohort of individuals across various hearing conditions. STUDY

designCross-sectional survey.

settingTertiary academic medical center and community.

methodsAdults (≥18 years) including normal hearing (NH) individuals, unaided individuals with HL, HA users, and CI users were assessed using the Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire (BMRQ), Goldsmiths Musical Sophistication Index perceptual abilities subscale (GMSI-PA), and music engagement items. ANOVA/ANCOVA was used to assess group differences, adjusting for age, gender, race, education, and musical training.

resultsAmong 201 participants (NH = 30, unaided HL = 23, HA = 84, CI = 64; 55.2% female; mean age 61.3), hearing status was associated with perceptual abilities; in particular, CI users had lower perceptual abilities than other groups (CI adjusted mean = 33.1 vs 38.6-42.9 for NH, unaided HL, HA; all P < .01). However, non-perceptual factors, including musical training and age, were stronger determinants of engagement and reward than hearing condition. A 1-SD increase in musical training (10.1 points) was associated with a 3.1-point increase in GMSI-PA, 21.7 additional listening days/year, 32.3 additional participation days/year, and 3.1-point increase in BMRQ.

conclusionPoorer hearing status was associated with reduced music perception but not engagement or reward, even among CI users. Non-perceptual factors like musical training and age may play a stronger role in explaining individual differences, highlighting the role of modifiable behavioral factors in enhancing music reward for individuals with HL.

Indexed as

Auditory PerceptionCochlear ImplantsHearing AidsHearing LossMusicRewardAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and Questionnairesaural rehabilitationcochlear implanthearing aidshearing lossmusic appreciationmusic engagementmusic perceptionmusic rewardquality of life

Identifiers

PMID42464529
PMCPMC13655763

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.