essay about listening to music while studying

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Is it OK to listen to music while studying?

October 17, 2019

UOW researcher answers this tricky question as NSW students start written exams for the HSC.

It’s a good question! In a nutshell, music puts us in a better mood, which makes us better at studying – but it also distracts us, which makes us worse at studying.

So if you want to study effectively with music, you want to reduce how distracting music can be, and increase the level to which the music keeps you in a good mood.

Read more: Curious Kids: Why do adults think video games are bad?

Music can put us in a better mood

You may have heard of the Mozart effect – the idea that listening to Mozart makes you “smarter”. This is based on research that found listening to complex classical music like Mozart improved test scores, which the researcher argued was based on the music’s ability to stimulate parts of our minds that play a role in mathematical ability.

However, further research conclusively debunked the Mozart effect theory: it wasn’t really anything to do with maths, it was really just that music puts us in a better mood.

Research conducted in the 1990s found a “Blur Effect” – where kids who listened to the BritPop band Blur seemed to do better on tests. In fact, researchers found that the Blur effect was bigger than the Mozart effect, simply because kids enjoyed pop music like Blur more than classical music.

Being in a better mood likely means that we try that little bit harder and are willing to stick with challenging tasks.

Music can distract us

On the other hand, music can be a distraction – under certain circumstances.

When you study, you’re using your “working memory” – that means you are holding and manipulating several bits of information in your head at once.

The research is fairly clear that when there’s music in the background, and especially music with vocals, our working memory gets worse .

Likely as a result, reading comprehension decreases when people listen to music with lyrics . Music also appears to be more distracting for people who are introverts than for people who are extroverts, perhaps because introverts are more easily overstimulated.

Some clever work by an Australia-based researcher called Bill Thompson and his colleagues aimed to figure out the relative effect of these two competing factors - mood and distraction.

They had participants do a fairly demanding comprehension task, and listen to classical music that was either slow or fast, and which was either soft or loud.

They found the only time there was any real decrease in performance was when people were listening to music that was both fast and loud (that is, at about the speed of Shake It Off by Taylor Swift, at about the volume of a vacuum cleaner).

But while that caused a decrease in performance, it wasn’t actually that big a decrease. And other similar research also failed to find large differences.

So… can I listen to music while studying or not?

To sum up: research suggests it’s probably fine to listen to music while you’re studying - with some caveats.

It’s better if:

• it puts you in a good mood
• it’s not too fast or too loud
• it’s less wordy (and hip-hop, where the words are rapped rather than sung, is likely to be even more distracting)
• you’re not too introverted.

Happy listening and good luck in your exams!

Read more: Curious Kids: Why do old people hate new music?

Timothy Byron , Lecturer in Psychology, University of Wollongong

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .

UOW academics exercise academic freedom by providing expert commentary, opinion and analysis on a range of ongoing social issues and current affairs. This expert commentary reflects the views of those individual academics and does not necessarily reflect the views or policy positions of the University of Wollongong.

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Studying With Music: Arguments for & Against

Does music really help you study?

• By Sander Tamm
• Aug 4, 2021

E-student.org is supported by our community of learners. When you visit links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

At some point, almost every student has experimented with using background music as a means to study or  work  more efficiently. 

It is no wonder, then, that the iconic YouTube channel  Lofi Girl  is currently approaching the 1B views mark.

But, does music actually make a legitimate difference in the effectiveness of an individual study session?

According to relevant science, listening to music while studying does have its advantages as well as significant disadvantages – one thing is for sure, there is no concrete “yes or no” answer to whether music affects studying positively.

If we leave the science out of it and look at the individual opinions of students, things stay just as complicated – many students swear by background music, while many learners are completely against ANY background noise.

The debate on whether music can help you study or not tends to boil down to two concrete arguments.

One side has the opinion that listening to music helps  improve focus and concentration . The other camp says that they don’t want  any additional noise  because their own thoughts provide enough distraction as it is. Thus, for these students, music seems to make concentration even more difficult.

In this article, we will be looking at both the science and the individual experience of the students. In addition, we will explore both the advantages and disadvantages of listening to music while studying.

Hopefully, the article will let you decide on which option would suit you better –  studying in complete silence or doing the brain crunching with some light background music on.

Without further ado, let’s get started by looking at some advantages of listening to music while studying.

Here’s what you’ll find in this article:

Studying with Music

Arguments for listening to music while studying.

Here are four major advantages of listening to music while studying:

Relaxing music can combat study-related stress

Learning about a new subject or going through a demanding online course can be overwhelming and stressful, even for the brightest of minds. Therefore, it is essential (at least if you want the study session to be fruitful) to study with a positive mindset.

Why? Well,  research  suggests that positive affect (term used in psychology for positive emotions and expression) improves a variety of cognitive processes.

Simply put, you will learn better when you are in a good mood.

This is where listening to music comes in – according to scientists from  Stanford University , music can  change brain functioning  to the same extent as meditation.

It is a quick, easy, and cheap way of flooding your brain with endorphins and reaping the benefits of improved cognitive function immediately.

Music can help with completing repetitive tasks

According to a  study by Fox & Embrey  (1972), music can be a great productivity aid when you need to perform repetitive and more simple tasks.

For example, try listening to music when rewriting or editing a paper. Music can inspire you to tackle these somewhat tedious activities with greater efficiency.

Music can inspire you to tackle these somewhat tedious activities with greater efficiency. For example, try listening to music when rewriting or editing a paper. You’ll quickly see that you work more quickly and efficiently when listening to music.

Music can also make a boring activity seem less boring. Listening to music while doing something mundane, like creating  charting  tables or creating columns for  Cornell notes .

Music can help with memorization

In one way or another, all learning is about memorization. And, according to science, background music can have a  positive impact on human memory .

So, next time you are trying to memorize phrases from an  online language course , have some background music on. It just might give your learning that extra boost.

Listening to music with headphones can cancel noise pollution

In a perfect world, you could always choose exactly where and when you study. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.

There will be times when your study environment will work against you – distractions can come in the form of other family members, roommates, or traffic noise.

In such cases, putting on a pair of headphones would be a great way of fighting  noise pollution . After all, a soothing collection of tunes will be a much better background to your studies than hearing your roommate play video games for hours on end.

Arguments against listening to music while studying

These are the two main drawbacks to listening to music while studying:

Lack of concentration

Whether you consciously notice it or not, your brain will put some extra resources into “decoding” the music playing in the background. This is especially true for songs with lyrics – instead of focusing on your studies, you will unconsciously try to listen to what the singer is saying. This can ultimately  decrease your productivity  by 10%. Thus, for tasks that require cognitively demanding and creative mental work, complete silence would be the best possible solution.

Complete silence  promotes increased blood flow  to the brain. This, in return, directly affects your capability to tackle more demanding mental tasks.

So, if you are planning on mastering a hard skill like  PHP  or  Python , always try to find a place as silent as possible.

Music can trigger bad memories

Music can put you in a positive mood (thus enhancing your cognitive capabilities), but the reverse is also possible.

Some music can come with bad associations and lead you to a more negative state of mind. Which, in return, will dampen your learning capabilities.

You can combat this by avoiding music that is too dark or downbeat. Thinking about your high school heartbreaks is the last thing you want when studying for that Advanced Calculus exam.

4 Tips for using background music to enhance your mental capacity

If you are planning on experimenting with listening to music while studying, there are some things to consider. These tips will help you avoid some mistakes students commonly make when studying with background music.

Avoid music with lyrics!

It is not a coincidence that most of the music associated with studying is entirely instrumental.

According to a study by Perham/Currie (2014), music with lyrics has a negative effect on reading comprehension performance. The same study also finds that the same applies even when the student enjoys the music or already knows the lyrical content.

To conclude, do not choose albums, playlists, or songs with any lyrical content.

If you are not knowledgeable about instrumental music, the Lofi Girl YouTube channel mentioned in the introduction is the best place to start. For further inspiration, we will also list some music styles that we recommend experimenting with.

But, before we get into specific styles, allow me to explain why not all instrumental music works as a backdrop for a learning session.

Use background music that follows clear patterns

We already established that the debate is still on whether listening to music while studying is beneficial or not. But, one thing is clear – the  type of music  you choose for your study sessions matters!

Not any instrumental music is suitable background music by default. Music that is too progressive in nature is likely to throw your brain off the loop and distract you.

For example, listening to jazz while studying might “make sense” to some students, but jazz is quite chaotic in nature. Thus, I wouldn’t choose jazz as background music for studying, even if the pieces are entirely instrumental.

The lo-fi hip-hop beats have become such popular choices for study music because they generally follow a clear, defined rhythm. These beats provide a pleasant background ambiance that does not demand your brain for attention. 

Here are some other examples of music styles suitable for learning:

• Ambient  – Brian Eno, possibly the most famous ambient composer of all time, has described ambient music as music that “induces calm and a space to think”. This is exactly what you want when selecting suitable music for getting some studying done.
• Downtempo  – Similar to ambient, but with a bigger focus on beats. The atmospheric sounds and the mellow beats make downtempo a great backdrop for long study sessions.
• Classical  –  The Mozart Effect  has been effectively  debunked . Listening to classical music does NOT make you smarter. Still, classical music can enhance your mood and put you in the right mind frame for studying. Reading while listening to classical is something that works particularly well for many students.
• Deep house  – An unconventional choice, but something that has worked for me and several other students we interviewed. Deep house has very little variation, the beats are hypnotic, and the rhythms are soothing.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. What works for one student, might not work for someone else. So, feel free to experiment with different albums, playlists, and artists to see what works best for your study routine.

Make your choices before the learning sessions

You have probably heard that some of the most high-performing individuals in the world consciously limit their daily choices. This is a great strategy for avoiding decision fatigue as much as possible.

Decision fatigue is the last thing you want when engaging in mentally demanding work such as studying. Thus, if you are planning on studying with background music playing, choose your music well in advance. Preferably the day before your learning session.

Take regular breaks

You can use the stopping of music as a cue for a study break. For example, prepare separate playlists for your learning sessions. When one playlist is finished, take a break.

Since your brain has learned to associate music with studying, you will find it that much easier to relax and switch off when the music stops.

When you resume learning, your mind will be fully refreshed and ready to absorb new information.

The usefulness of background music for studying depends on many variables. It all comes down to the specific music listened to, what you are studying, and the environment where you study.

Of course, the personality and the study habits of a given student are also important.

Everyone has different preferences, so you will need to experiment with what works for you. Some people may find that listening to music while studying helps them focus more and retain information better. Others will do better in silence without any noise at all.

The scientific evidence is also inconclusive. Some studies show that music can help improve attention and memory, while other studies find no benefits for listening to music while studying.

If you do decide to experiment with having background music on while studying, there are some key takeaways to consider.

For one, anything with lyrics should be avoided. The same goes for music that is too loud and intense or too progressive. Instead, opt for music that is repetitive and classically pleasant.

Also, be sure to prepare your playlists or streams BEFORE starting studying. Choosing songs while engaging with your studies is a surefire formula for throwing your brain off the loop and hurting your concentration levels.

Sander Tamm

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The Effects of Listening to Music While Studying Research Paper

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Works cited.

Music is a human construct, because humans have to acknowledge and define the existence of an objective reality of sound into music. Every human culture uses music to promote its ideas and ideals and music is intrinsically interwoven in the fabric of each society. Music is considered as a powerful tool for shaping individual abilities and character, and “musicality is a universal trait of humankind.” (Hallam, Susan, 2006). “If sounds are created or combined by a human being, recognized as music by some group of people and serve some functions which music has come to serve for mankind, then those sounds are music.”(Radocy and Boyle, 1988, p.19).

With the advent of modern electronic gadgets students are exposed to more and more avenues of entertainment and study time is not devoid from the interference of these gadgets. How music, particularly background music, affect student learning is an area attracting much research, and it is finding difficult to produce conclusive evidence to support this habit.

The Oxford Dictionary defines music as “the art of combining sounds of voice(s) or instrument(s) to achieve beauty of forms and expression of emotion.” The effect of music on individual to individual will be at variance as it depends on subjective judgments of what constitutes beauty of form and expression of emotion of an individual. Miller (2000) argues that:

“music exemplifies many of the classic criteria for a complex human evolutionary adaptation. He points out that no culture has ever been without music (universality); musical development in children is orderly; musicality is widespread (all adults can appreciate music and remember tunes); there is specialist memory for music; specialized cortical mechanisms are involved; there are parallels in the signals of other species—for example, birds, gibbons and whales—so evolution may be convergent; and music can evoke strong emotions, which implies receptive as well as productive adaptations” (Hallam, 2006, p.2).

Many historical evidences show that music existed many thousands of years ago and several musical instruments were developed in different parts of the world. According to theorization of Huron (2003), music developed among different cultures as a part of courtship behavior, social cohesion, group effort, perceptual development, motor skill development, conflict reduction, safe time passing, and a mnemonic device of trans-generational communication.

Music has multiple functions which influence development of individuals, social groups and the society as a whole. Music as a medium of expressing human feelings transcend into enforcing social norms and continuity and stability of culture, at the same time contributes to the integration of society. In the perspective of an individual music is a medium for emotional expression particularly when words and verbal exchanges are difficult to establish. It has the power to influence individual mood as well as induce relaxation or stimulate mental or physical performance.

Scientific evidence show that the human brain has systems for music perception which operate from birth, enabling ‘significant nonverbal communication in the form of music’ (Gaston 1968, p.15 as quoted by Hallam p, 4). It is also suggested that participating in music generates social bonding and cultural coherence as well as formation and maintenance of group identity, collective thinking, coalition forming, and promotion of co-operative behavior.

Though there are arguments that music exists simply because of the pleasure that it affords, its basis is purely hedonic, there is no doubt that engagement with it is rewarding for human beings. Even though music has varied roles to play in individual and social development the extent to which music education is provided through state education systems internationally varies.

The approach to formal music education focuses on listening, understanding and appreciation of music, performance, and creativity or it is integrated with general arts education. However, a comprehensive music education approach has not been evolved so far. At present academicians and education professionals express deep concern about the nature, role, importance, and future of arts education in the schools in order to provide quality education to younger generations and make them successful in their future education and career development.

Much of the research results indicate that education in arts provides significant cognitive benefits and boosts academic achievement, beginning at an early age and continuing through school. Music helps to develop cognitive and higher order thinking skills necessary for academic success, as music improves individual talent in the rhythm sense, physical coordination, motor skills, critical thinking, memory recall, listening, and logic development. Research studies have shown that students who listen to music have higher spatial scores, the ability to form mental images of physical objects, on intelligence tests. (Rauseher, et al., 1994)

Among students of arts with music it is found that they learn how to work cooperatively, pose and solve problems, and forge the vital link between individual or group effort and quality of results, which are important for success in a competitive workplace. Well organized arts education contributes to building technological competencies as well as higher level thinking skills of analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating both personal experience and objective data. In addition, arts education enhances student’s respect for the cultures, belief systems, and values of their fellow learners.

Along with the advancement in scientific techniques, for studying functioning of brain, there is proportionate increase in research exploring the representation of music-related functions of the brain. Altenmuller (2003) states that “the neural systems underlying music appear to be distributed through the left and right cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres, with different aspects of music processed by distinct neural circuits.”(Hallam p.11).

Further researchers opine that the majority of relevant sound information is neurally encoded, even if we are not consciously aware of it, and the attention process of the listener has important implications for the variations of their reaction to music. It is also found that music activates large parts of auditory cortex in both hemispheres of our brain. There is a wide range of music-related behaviors, such as amusia (loss of musical function), aphasia (loss of language functions), etc., which are influenced by brain functions that can be spared or impaired depending on the extent of damage to brain.

Learning occurs by the self-organization of cerebral cortex in response to external stimuli, and learning and memory are based on changes in “synaptic efficacy in the brain.” (Hallam, p.17) The brain network undergoes changes for adapting cortical remodeling, with effective connections between neurons. The brain is able to adapt quickly to environmental demands in the short and long term, and over time develops appropriate neurological structures to meet individual needs. It is evidenced that “the brain responds to behavioral needs but, once developed, enhanced brain functions operate in processing under passive listening conditions, suggesting that they are deeply engrained processing strategies shaped by years of musical experience” (ibid p.19).

LeDoux (1996) suggests that music is capable to activate phylo-genetically old parts of the nervous system that are strongly implicated in the induction of learning of fear responses which operate subconsciously (ibid p.21). When we hear music or other sounds, our emotional responses to them are controlled by amygdale, which provide a more complete cognitive assessment of the situation. In the same pattern when the students are taught about rhythm through verbal, logical explanations accompanied by musical examples, then their approach will be controlled by nature of learning. With adequate time spent in learning, the brain will develop appropriate neurological networks to retain the knowledge and skills learnt.

Research suggests that listening to music while studying may “distract attention from the studied material, thereby impeding learning.” (Tan, L. 1999). Music is every where in the life of an individual, starting from the fetus stage till the end of the life. People listen to different types of music depending on their mood, and the effects of listening to music are personal to each person, which produces different emotion to different people. Any music played while the attention of the listener is focused primarily on a task or activity other than listening to music, is defined as “background music,” and an individual engaged in studying or academic preparation may not be aware of the music in their immediate environment (Radocy & Boyle, 1988).

It may be possible that music enhances some individual’s learning, but it may be distracting to others. Researchers like Radocy & Boyle (1988) have explored the possible transfer of cognitive abilities to other curricular areas by hypothesizing that exposure to music, through participation and formal instruction can facilitate nonmusical learning. With popularization of “Mozart effect” in 1993 by Rauscher et al, claim that listening to Mozart improves intelligence, there is much argument about the potential role of music in developing intelligence, particularly in students.(Listening to music)

Research has found that positive, happy music helps the learner to remember positive facts, whereas negative, sad music helps the learner to remember negative facts, and may even hinder the recall of positive facts. As the brain has to associate the music with an emotion, and when what is being studied is comparable to the music being heard, then the music will help recall the learning. It is common among students to engage in multi-tasking, meaning watching TV, listening to music, surfing the web and chatting online while doing home work.

With multi-tasking students get a superficial understanding of the studied material. As many activities interfere with the studies leading to poor performance, it can have negative impact on learning of students. It is difficult to identify whether passive distraction affect student learning as student’s study preferences vary from individual to individual. For some students’ music functions like a shield from distractions, and for others music can produce emotional soothing.

And for those with attention-deficit disorder, who are constantly seeking stimulation, some distraction may be helpful to concentrate on their studies. If the students are able to identify their potential and they find listening to music makes them more enjoyable to do homework and studying it will be probably a good approach as long as it does not affect their learning.

The constantly changing media and influx of more and more entertainment industry activities are more likely to divide the mind and interrupt studying than what was happening with background music. However, educators need to acknowledge the power that music has to influence moods, emotions, and arousal levels as music stimulates rewards systems in the brain and engagement with it is naturally enjoyable. Through informal engagements with music in a range of social occasions, where children will have extensive exposure to a wide range of musical genres, it will be easy to amalgamate music in the life of students without interfering with their studies.

Rauscher, F., Shaw, G., Levine, L., Ky, K., and Wright, E. Music and Spatial task performance: a casual relationship. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association 102 nd Annual Convention, Los Angeles, CA.

Radocy, R.E., and Boyle, J.D. Psychological Foundations of Musical Behavior (2 nd ed). Springfield: Charles C. Thomas. 1988.

Hallam, Susan. Music Psychology in Education. London: Institute of Education, University of London. 2006. Web.

Tan, L. Effects of distracting noise on study efficacy. Journal of Psychology. 23, (233-226). 1999.

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March 3, 2020

Does Music Boost Your Cognitive Performance?

The answer depends on your personality

By Cindi May

Getty Images

Music makes life better in so many ways. It elevates mood , reduces stress and eases pain . Music is heart-healthy , because it can lower blood pressure , reduce heart rate and decrease stress hormones in the blood. It also connects us with others and enhances social bonds . Music can even improve workout endurance and increase our enjoyment of challenging activities .

The fact that music can make a difficult task more tolerable may be why students often choose to listen to it while doing their homework or studying for exams. But is listening to music the smart choice for students who want to optimize their learning?

A new study by Manuel Gonzalez of Baruch College and John Aiello of Rutgers University suggests that for some students, listening to music is indeed a wise strategy, but for others, it is not. The effect of music on cognitive functioning appears not to be “one-size-fits-all” but to instead depend, in part, on your personality—specifically, on your need for external stimulation. People with a high requirement for such stimulation tend to get bored easily and to seek out external input. Those individuals often do worse , paradoxically, when listening to music while engaging in a mental task. People with a low need for external stimulation, on the other hand, tend to improve their mental performance with music.

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But other factors play a role as well. Gonzalez and Aiello took a fairly sophisticated approach to understanding the influence of music on intellectual performance, assessing not only listener personality but also manipulating the difficulty of the task and the complexity of the music. Whether students experience a perk or a penalty from music depends on the interplay of the personality of the learner, the mental task, and the music.

In the study, participants first completed the Boredom Proneness Scale , which is a personality test used to determine need for external stimulation. They then engaged in an easy cognitive task (searching for the letter A in lists of words) and a more challenging one (remembering word pairs). To control for practice and fatigue effects, half of the subjects completed the easy task first, while the other half completed the challenging one first. Participants finished both tasks under one of three sound conditions: (a) no music, (b) simple music or (c) complex music. All of the music was instrumental, and music complexity was manipulated by varying the number of instruments involved in the piece. Simple music included piano, strings and synthesizer, while complex music added drums and bass to the simple piece.

The data suggest that your decision to turn music on (or off) while studying should depend on your personality. For those with a high need of external stimulation, listening to music while learning is not wise, especially if the task is hard and/or the music is complex. On the simple task of finding A’s, such subjects’ scores for the music condition were the same (for simple music) or significantly worse (for complex music) than those for the silent condition. On the complex task of learning word pairs, their performance was worse whenever music was played, regardless of whether it was simple or complex.

For those with a low need of external stimulation, however, listening to music is generally the optimal choice. On the simple task of findings A’s, such participants’ scores for the music condition were the same (for simple music) or dramatically better (for complex music) than those for the silent condition. On the complex task of learning word pairs, the participants showed a small but reliable benefit with both simple and complex music, relative to silence.

The results suggest that there are substantial individual differences in the impact of music on cognitive function, and thus recommendations regarding its presence in the classroom, study hall or work environment may need to be personalized. Students who are easily bored and who seek out stimulation should be wary of adding music to the mix, especially complex music that may capture attention and consume critical cognitive resources that are needed for successful task completion. On the other hand, students with a low need for stimulation may benefit significantly from the presence of music, especially when completing simple, mundane tasks.

Before students decide to slip in their earbuds, though, they should carefully consider both their musical selection and the nature of the task. All of the music used in the present study was instrumental, and lyrical music will likely be more complex. Complexity appears to increase arousal, and the Yerkes-Dodson law suggests that a moderate level of arousal produces optimal performance. When there is too little or too much arousal, performance drops. Thus, the benefits of music for those with a low need for external stimulation that were observed here could diminish or even disappear with the added complexity of lyrics.

Similarly, increases in the complexity of a cognitive task might also reduce or eliminate the benefit of music. Although the “complex” task used in this study (learning word pairs) was only moderately challenging, the increase in complexity, relative to the simple task, was enough to reduce music’s positive effect. With a highly challenging cognitive task (e.g., text comprehension or exam preparation), even those with a low need for external stimulation may fail to show such an effect with music.

With the right (low-need-for-stimulation) personality, the right (instrumental) music and the right (low-to-moderately-difficult) task, the presence of music may significantly improve cognitive functioning. Given the many other physical, emotional and psychological benefits of music, that subscription to Spotify just might pay for itself!

Cindi May is a professor of psychology at the College of Charleston. She explores avenues for improving cognitive function and outcomes in college students, older adults and individuals who are neurodiverse.

Listening to Music while Studying: Create Your Perfect Study Ambience

Table of contents.

Does listening to music help you study? 🎧

Many students swear by the power of music during their study sessions. Whether it’s libraries or coffee shops, you often see headphones all around as people are trying to drown out distractions or set a personal soundtrack to keep their motivation high.

Given this widespread practice, it’s worth looking into whether listening to music really does help you absorb and retain information better, if it simply makes the monotony of studying more bearable, or if it even could have adverse effects on your performance. 

Is it good to study with music – according to science? 

A Stanford study tested various types of classical music and found that it did help study performance, with peak brain activity being observed in the musical breaks – the transition between the musical movements. A co-author of the study theorized that the process of listening to music could be a way that the brain sharpens its ability to anticipate events and sustain attention. So, while it is not 100% understood, there are indications that music can support you in your study sessions. 

How can music help you focus? 

Possible positive influences that music may have on you while studying include: 

• Music alleviates stress and anxiety 
• Music can increase mood, energy, and motivation 
• Can improve brain function (as per the Stanford study) 
• Music is emotional which may help memory by making you more engaged 
• Music can help you focus by blocking out distracting outside noises
• Music fills silence that some people find hard to bear, for example if they are affected by tinnitus 

Does classical music help you study better than other genres? 

The Stanford study mentioned above and most other studies were done with classical music and did not compare the outcomes to other genres. A common assumption is that music with lyrics is more distracting than instrumental music. 

However, in practice, not everyone listens to classical music and many people still say that listening to their favorite modern tunes helps them while studying. 

One study compared a large set of Spotify playlists and surprisingly found that the playlists that people use for studying have a lot of overlap with playlists used for sleeping. However, that does not necessarily mean that it is all soft, slow, and instrumental, as one might expect. The playlists they found were very varied. 

A takeaway here could be to not let yourself be influenced by one or another study claiming to have found the best study music – experiment for yourself what type of music gets you in your best state of mind for learning. With how different tastes in music are, what works best for you may not work for the next student. 

Disadvantages of listening to music while studying

Before you study with music, consider the potential disadvantages that can affect the efficiency and effectiveness of learning. Make sure to look out for those and adjust your study strategy if you notice any of them are affecting you or getting worse with background music. Here are some of the main drawbacks:

You may get distracted

Music, especially those with lyrics or complex melodies, can compete for the cognitive resources that you would need for learning. This can be particularly disruptive during tasks that require significant concentration, like solving complex problems or understanding calculations. The cognitive distraction can also slow you down, reducing your efficiency. 

It does not work for everyone

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning efficiency. Some may find music immensely helpful, while others find it overwhelmingly distracting. This makes it difficult to establish a general recommendation for studying with music. 

You may get overstimulated 

The constant additional stimulation of background music can lead to feelings of anxiety or overwhelm in some people. If this is you, especially if you are sensitive to sensory overload, you won’t benefit from any of the positive effects music could have for other’s studying.

It may interfere with your memory 

It is theorized that there’s a possibility that the conflicting information your brain receives in parallel from your learning material and the background music can hinder the memory processes involved in learning. 

You may get too used to it 

If you consistently study with music, there’s a risk that you become so habituated to having background noise that you feel uncomfortable in environments where music is not allowed, for example an exam. It may even make it harder for you to recall your knowledge and perform under a circumstance that is too different from your usual environment. 

You can counteract this disadvantage by not using music or noise all the time, and by simulating exam environments as realistically as possible when preparing for tests. 

If not music – what type of noise is best for studying? 

Another common background noise for studying is different types of generated broadband sound aiming to improve focus while being less distracting than music. Examples are white noise, brown noise, or pink noise (broadband sounds that are perceived as “deeper” than white noise).

Is white noise good for studying?

Through its uniform nature without much variability, white noise has much less potential to be distracting than music. But does white noise help you study in other ways, as well? 

Research has suggested that white noise may stimulate the brain regions responsible for dopamine secretion and attention, which may make you more focused on studying. This study found that listening to white noise had a positive effect on vocabulary learning. Another study was inconclusive and suggested there may not be any direct proven effects of white noise on cognitive performance. 

How to find what noise helps you focus

Try different styles: 

• Compare how you feel with different kinds of noise: white, pink, brown, etc
• Experiment with nature sounds: Many people perceive waves, rain, wind, bird song, or fire crackling as very relaxing and not distracting
• Binaural beats can be an in-between solution between musical pieces and background noise if you’re looking for background ambience specifically designed to evoke certain brainwave states
• Try ambient sound: Ambient sound is the background noise in any environment. By listening to the sounds that remind you of a specific environment, you can evoke that mindset or feeling you associate with that environment. Some students enjoy a library soundscape with shuffling papers and writing sounds for studying, while others work best with the sounds of a busy cafe in the background, or prefer a farm or forest ambience. 

Adjust the volume: 

Make sure the background noise is loud enough to block out distracting sounds, but not so loud that it becomes distracting. Start at a low volume and adjust as needed. 

Monitor how you feel as well as your results: 

The best background noise makes you more productive and makes you feel better. Pay attention to which sounds make you feel especially stressed, drained, make you experience scattered thoughts, or suddenly make it easier to get stuff done. 

Study aesthetics and lofi study ambience 

Lo-fi music combined with playful, peaceful artwork is a notable trend in how people create enjoyable and helpful study experiences for themselves. Lo-fi music is characterized by a calm, soothing atmosphere with various genre influences. The related aesthetic applied to artwork around playlists and online study rooms often is associated with nostalgic or vintage visuals. 

In combination, this creates a popular vibe that lots of students perceive as helpful for improving their productivity, as well as a way of identifying with their often stressful academic life in a more positive way. You can find lots of playlists and platforms following this theme to try. 

How to find your perfect study background noise: resources 

Youtube is a go-to resource for study music and playlists, but make sure you find ones without ad breaks. Ads are a sure way to get very distracted frequently, especially since they are often much louder than the rest of the videos’ content.

This author tried to find the best study music that aligns with the findings of the Stanford study referred to above. They used cross-fading on Spotify and experimented with various pre-compiled study playlists. Their favorite turned out to be the Solace Album Mix by Monstercat. If you’re using Spotify, we recommend consciously experimenting with different genres and types of playlists to find not only something you enjoy, but what really helps you focus. 

Other apps and websites 

• Study Music – Memory Booster app: 4.7 stars from 90.1k reviews
• mynoise.net : curated soundscapes that can be interactively combined and generated 
• https://lifeat.io/ : online study platform with ambience sounds, calming visuals, and integrated study-organizing features 

Conclusion 

It’s clear that the effectiveness of using music or noises to improve learning varies widely. There is no one-size-fits-all, as is true for most other study hacks and techniques. It stays important that you inform yourself of the options, experiment, and then consistently stick with what you found out works well for you. The earlier on in your studies you find your strategies, the easier your path will be – but it is also never too late to get into new productive habits.

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Georgia Tech Neuroscientists Explore the Intersection of Music and Memory

Researchers demonstrate music’s impact on learning and memory, with possible therapeutic applications for mental health.

The soundtrack of this story begins with a vaguely recognizable and pleasant groove. But if I stop writing and just listen for a second, the music reveals itself completely. In Freddie Hubbard’s comfortable, lilting trumpet solo over Herbie Hancock’s melodic, repetitive piano vamping, I recognize “Cantaloupe Island.” Then, with my fingers again poised at the keyboard, Freddie and Herbie fade into the background, followed by other instrumental music: captivating — but not distracting — sonic nutrition, feeding my concentration and productivity. 

Somewhere, I think, Yiren Ren is studying, focused on her research that demonstrates how music impacts learning and memory. Possibly, she’s listening to Norah Jones, or another musician she’s comfortable with. Because that’s how it works: The music we know and might love, music that feels predictable or even safe — that music can help us study and learn. Meanwhile, Ren has also discovered, other kinds of music can influence our emotions and reshape old memories. 

Ren, a sixth-year Ph.D. student in Georgia Tech’s School of Psychology, explores these concepts as the lead author of two new research papers in the journals PLOS One and Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience (CABN) . 

“These studies are connected because they both explore innovative applications of music in memory modulation, offering insights for both every day and clinical use,” says Ren. 

But the collective research explores music’s impacts in very different ways, explains Ren’s faculty advisor and co-author of the study, Thackery Brown . 

“One paper looks at how music changes the quality of your memory when you’re first forming it — it’s about learning,” says Brown, a cognitive neuroscientist who runs the MAP (Memory, Affect, and Planning) Lab at Tech. “But the other study focuses on memories we already have and asks if we can change the emotions attached to them using music.”

Making Moods With Music

When we watch a movie with a robust score — music created to induce emotions — what we’re hearing guides us exactly where the composer wants us to go. In their CABN study, Ren, Brown, and their collaborators from the University of Colorado (including former Georgia Tech Assistant Professor Grace Leslie) report that this kind of “mood music” can also be powerful enough to change how we remember our past. 

Their study included 44 Georgia Tech students who listened to film soundtracks while recalling a difficult memory. Ren is quick to point out that this was not a clinical trial, so these participants were not identified as people suffering from mood disorders: “We wanted to start off with a random group of people and see if music has the power to modulate the emotional level of their memories.” 

Turns out, it does. The participants listened to movie soundtracks and incorporated new emotions into their memories that matched the mood of the music. And the effect was lasting. A day later, when the participants recalled these same memories — but without musical accompaniment — their emotional tone still matched the tone of the music played the day before.

Your browser does not support the audio element.

Positive Mood Film Music

Negative mood film music.

“This [research] sheds light on the malleability of memory in response to music, and the powerful role music can play in altering our existing memories.”

The researchers could watch all this happening with fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging). They could see the altered brain activity in the study participants, the increased connectivity between the amygdala, where emotions are processed, and other areas of the brain associated with memory and integrating information. 

“This sheds light on the malleability of memory in response to music, and the powerful role music can play in altering our existing memories,” says Ren. 

Ren is herself a multi-instrumentalist who originally planned on being a professional musician. As an undergraduate at Boston University, she pursued a dual major in film production and sound design, and psychology. 

She found a way to combine her interests in music and neuroscience and is interested in how music therapy can be designed to help people with mood disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression, “particularly in cases where someone might overexaggerate the negative components of a memory,” Ren says. 

There is no time machine that will allow us to go back and insert happy music into the mix while a bad event is happening and a memory is being formed, “but we can retrieve old memories while listening to affective music,” says Brown. “And perhaps we can help people shift their feelings and reshape the emotional tone attached to certain memories.”

Embracing the Familiar

The second study asks a couple of old questions: Should we listen to music while we work or study? And if so, are there more beneficial types of music than others? The answer to both questions might lie, at least partially, within the expansive parameters of personal taste. But even so, there are limits. 

Think back to my description of “Cantaloupe Island” at the beginning of this story and how a familiar old jazz standard helped keep this writer’s brain and fingers moving. In the same way, Norah Jones helps Ren when she’s working on new research around music and memory. But if, for some reason, I wanted to test my concentration, I’d play a different kind of jazz, maybe 1950s bebop with its frenetic pace and off-center tone, or possibly a chorus of screeching cats. Same effect. It would demand my attention, and no work would get done.

For this study, Ren combined her gifts as a musician and composer with her research interests in examining whether music can improve — or impair — our ability to learn or remember new information. “We wanted to probe music’s potential as a mnemonic device that helps us remember information more easily,” she says. (An example of a mnemonic device is “Every Good Boy Does Fine,” which stands for E-G-B-D-F and helps new piano players learn the order of notes on a keyboard.)

This study’s 48 participants were asked to learn sequences of abstract shapes while listening to different types of music. Ren played a piece of music, in a traditional or familiar pattern of tone, rhythm, and melody. She then played the exact same set of notes, but out of order, giving the piece an atonal structure. 

Familiar, Regular Music

Irregular music.

When they listened to familiar, predictable music, participants learned and remembered the sequences of shapes quicker as their brains created a structured framework, or scaffold, for the new information. Meanwhile, music that was familiar but irregular (think of this writer and the bebop example) made it harder for participants to learn.

“Depending its familiarity and structure, music can help or hinder our memory,” says Ren, who wants to deepen her focus on the neural mechanisms through which music influences human behavior. 

She plans to finish her Ph.D. studies this December and is seeking postdoctoral research positions that will allow her to continue the work she’s started at Georgia Tech. Building on that, Ren wants to develop music-based therapies for conditions like depression or PTSD, while also exploring new rehabilitation strategies for aging populations and individuals with dementia.

“These early studies reveal that music can both help and hinder our memory, depending on its familiarity and structure,” Ren says. “I’m excited to bring together my lifelong love of music with my interest in human memory. Because I think the next phase of my research could provide valuable evidence to support the development of music-based interventions for mental health and cognitive function.”

Here's a selection of music that neuroscientist Yiren Ren listens to while focusing on her research.

Citation: Yiren Ren, Sophia Kaltsouni Mehdizadeh, Grace Leslie, Thackery Brown. “Affective music during episodic memory recollection modulates subsequent false emotional memory traces: an fMRI study.” Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience (June 2024). doi.org/10.3758/s13415-024-01200-0

Citation: Yiren Ren, Grace Leslie, Thackery Brown. “Visual Sequence Encoding is Modulated by Music Schematic Structure and Familiarity.” PLOS One (August 2024). doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306271

Note: The researchers and storytelling team would like to thank both the School of Music  and the Georgia State/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging   for the use of their facilities to make the video and capture images. 

Writer: Jerry Grillo Media Contact : Shelley Wunder-Smith | [email protected]   Video : Christopher McKenney 

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Student Life

• Sep 9, 2022

10 Awesome Benefits of Listening to Music while Studying

Music is a powerful psychological tool — including during study sessions and exam periods.

Mike Dalley

HR and Learning & Development Expert

Reviewed by Chris Leitch

Music is a wonderful thing to have in life, and whereas we all have different tastes and preferences for what we like to listen to, there’s no denying that we all love listening to it for many different reasons. In recent years, music has been touted as having certain benefits to work-related activities, including studying and preparing for exams .

It might seem counterintuitive, but listening to music can make us more effective at taking in the information we’re trying to learn.  This article explores the various benefits of listening to music while studying.

Plug in some headphones and read on!

1. It improves your focus

Our brains are said to have two focus systems : one that helps us focus on conscious things, and one that focuses on unconscious things, such as background noise or other unwanted distractions.

Both work in tandem, so this, unfortunately, explains why we might be concentrating on doing something but our minds instead get hung up on noises like a washing machine whirring or someone sniffing continuously.

Listening to music — an often pleasurable experience — will preoccupy the unconscious part of our brain on something pleasant, thus allowing us to focus on succeeding at studying .

2. It boosts your memory

Studies conducted in the US and Japan have demonstrated that music doesn’t just help us recall old memories through feelings of nostalgia or familiarity; it can help us learn new ones as, well.

The rhythms and melodies of music can reactivate areas of the brain that help with memory , and listening to music while studying can help us associate certain songs or tunes with what we’re trying to learn; in essence, it’s a primitive form of association.

Singing along to music, meanwhile, can further drive recall ability and help with retaining information. Whether you sing to an audience or just to yourself is completely up to you!

3. It motivates you to study

Listening to your favorite music stimulates the areas of your brain which focus on reward and thinking positively. This means that when you listen to such music, you will feel more empowered and motivated to do a good job — and perhaps go the extra mile in the studying you are doing.

Positive or upbeat music might sound especially motivating for you and spur you on to work hard and concentrate for longer.

4. It helps you to detach

Music has a strong ability for us to detach from realities and escape into our favorite artists or genres. This might appear counterintuitive for the purposes of studying, but there can be certain benefits.

Some types of music, such as lo-fi, can evoke certain trance-like feelings and meditative responses that allow us to purely focus on one task, which can be a great way to get going with a hard hour of intense studying. In these environments, time might fly by, and you will find that you have gotten a lot more work accomplished than you would have originally expected.

5. It reduces stress levels

Listening to certain types of music can really help people calm down and become less anxious, which will help you retain information and improve your mindset for studying.

In a  2013 study, a group of volunteers were asked to perform tasks while listening to rippling water, calming music, or nothing at all. The sample responded differently — and calmer — when listening to music.

In general, relaxing music can help us recall calming memories and stimulate hormones that alleviate anxiety, which is discussed next.

6. It reduces anxiety

Calming music, especially classical music, can have a very dramatic effect on reducing anxiety.

Indeed, a 2021 study of intensive care patients demonstrated that their levels of anxiety (in this exceptionally anxiety-inducing environment) were significantly reduced when having classical music played to them.

Because your favorite music increases your feelings of pleasure, this reduces the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your body and, therefore, improves your focus on studying.

7. It improves cognitive thought

Music does a lot more for cognitive function than driving focus and memory. Different types of music can trigger certain cognitive responses, so if you enjoy these types of music, it’s good to be aware of their advantages.

Classical music, for example, can especially help with recalling numbers, mathematical principles and spatial reasoning (the latter being referred to as the Mozart Effect ). Songs with no lyrics are perfect for reading comprehension and writing . Nature sounds can help us concentrate, and chill-out music and lo-fi can assist with deep concentration and serious thought.

Therefore, it might be good to create certain playlists depending on what you’re studying.

8. It boosts your mood

One of the main reasons we listen to music in general is because it makes us happier. We all have our favorite songs and artists, and listening to them will bring a smile to our faces.

Having a mood enhancer for studying is an incredible feeling. Being happy and relaxed while studying makes the exercise of doing so a lot easier and pleasurable, and will install in you positive vibes that will make the end task (such as writing an essay or getting ready for an exam ) seem a lot easier to achieve, and that, basically, everything will be okay.

9. It helps you organize your study plan

Listening to music can help you structure your approach to studying, or at least break down what might seem like an insurmountable obstacle into bite-sized, achievable tasks.

One approach to this is to use a certain album or group of songs as a timeframe for studying, and when this collection of songs finishes, use this as an opportunity to take a break. This approach is known as the “Pomodoro Technique”, a productivity theory that breaks up work into smaller chunks. Aligning this technique to music can be a naturally effective approach.

10. It eliminates boredom

Studying in a quiet or silent room can do wonders to help us focus but can sometimes be mind-numbingly dull. Using music for no other purpose than a background track to your studying can simply help you remain engaged in what you’re doing.

If you’re able to listen to music while taking in the information you’re supposed to, then listening to music can alleviate a lot of the boredom and tediousness of studying. It’s best to do this using music that can fade a little into the background, so avoid music with too many lyrics or a new album that you haven’t yet listened to, as this might only serve to distract you from the task at hand.

Key takeaways

Music is an amazing study aid that offers plenty of benefits but, in general, using music to study offer three main advantages:

• It can improve focus.
• It can de-stress you.
• It can keep you engaged.

A big part of music’s effectiveness in helping you study is to find the best music to have on in the background. It makes sense to listen to music that you enjoy, but try to pick tracks and albums that will not distract you too much.

In general, calming music with few lyrics works best, but we are all individuals, so find music that works best for you. This can be a matter of trial and error, so if you feel that some types of music work less well, try a different genre. Sooner or later, you will find a style that clicks and will discover that studying becomes a lot easier — and a lot more effective.

Can you think of any other benefits of listening to music while studying? Let us know in the comments section below.

Originally published on July 25, 2018.

Productivity

• Our Mission

Don’t Listen to Music While Studying

I notice several students listening to music while busy at work. I have no good reason to ask that they remove their headphones and turn off their devices. As I walk around the room, I admire the elegant, concise prose each produces.

I ask one student why music helps her concentrate. "It soothes me and makes me less stressed," she says. "Plus, Ed Sheeran is just awesome."

As a college student, I spent countless hours studying in a dark corner of the Brandeis University Library. Often, I would lose track of time and wonder about seeing the sun again. Once, my mother called to ask why I hadn't yet returned home for Thanksgiving. I had forgotten about the holiday, focused on getting a jump-start on a major history paper while listening to Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road" on repeat.

Placing aside the issue of my self-induced exile, for me as well, music offered not only comfort but also increased focus -- or so I thought, at least until coming across the work of Dr. Nick Perham , a lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff.

Impaired Performance

Perham's 2010 study, "Can preference for background music mediate the irrelevant sound effect?" , shows how music can interfere with short-term memory performance.

I recently spoke with Perham, who told me about the "irrelevant sound effect." This involves a subject conducting a certain task, in this case recalling a series of numbers, while listening to different kinds of background music. If sound exhibits acoustical variations, or what Perham calls an "acute changing-state," performance is impaired. Steady-state sounds with little acoustical variation don't impair performance nearly as much.

I'm also interested by another of Perham's conclusions. "We found that listening to liked or disliked music was exactly the same, and both were worse than the quiet control condition," he says. "Both impaired performance on serial-recall tasks."

Still, I'm curious how prevalent serial-recall is in everyday life, and if one could get by without developing this skill. Unlikely, Perham says, as one would have tremendous difficulty recalling phone numbers, doing mental arithmetic, and even learning languages.

"Requiring the learning of ordered information has also been found to underpin language learning. If you consider language, learning syntax of language, learning the rules that govern how we put a sentence together, all of these require order information . . . " Perham says.

Perham asked his subjects how they think they performed when exposed to different tastes in music. Each reported performing much worse when listening to disliked music, although the study's results showed no difference.

I presented Perham's findings to my students, many of whom still refused to accept that listening to music while studying impairs performance. I even gave one of these otherwise bright and thoughtful individuals early access to my podcast interview with Perham.

"I enjoy listening to music while doing math," she says. "It really helps me think, and I won't stop listening even with the results of this study."

Silence Is Golden

My student is mistaken, but Perham explains that she should listen to music before getting to work, to engage what's known as the "arousal and mood effect." In fact, as long as she does something enjoyable before hitting the books -- whether it's listening to music or doing anything else -- past studies have shown that this can produce the same positive effect on performance.

I ask Perham then about the so-called "Mozart effect," which, in one early experiment, gave individuals who had recently listened to the famous classical composer enhanced spatial-rotation skills. When they stopped listening and were asked to cut and fold paper, they performed better than when listening to something else.

"Subsequent studies suggested that this wasn't correct," Perham says.

Instead, improved performance had more to do with the preference of sound one listened to before engaging in such work.

"They found it if you like listening to Stephen King's stories," Perham says. "It wasn't anything to do with classical music or Mozart, it was to do on whether you liked [listening to] something or not."

In one of his more recent studies, Perham says, he found that reading while listening to music, especially music with lyrics, impairs comprehension. In this case, it's spoken lyrics, not acoustical variation that impairs productivity.

"You've got semantic information that you're trying to use when you're reading a book, and you've got semantic information from the lyrics," Perham says. "If you can understand the lyrics, it doesn't matter whether you like it or not, it will impair your performance of reading comprehension."

In conducting my own little experiment, I decided to write this article in complete silence. These days, I write while listening to Dave Matthews, John Mayer and other "chill" music. I'm not sure if or how this fits exactly into Perham's findings, but I finished writing in about half the time it normally takes me for something of this length.

At the very least, here's to hoping that my experiment will entice my students to also give it a try.

Editor's note : A PDF transcript of David Cutler's interview with Dr. Nick Perham is available on Spin Education , where this post originally appeared.

Listening to Music While Studying

Introduction

Listening to music while studying is a widespread practice and has many valuable benefits for students of all ages. Although some people may have doubts about listening to the melody for learning purposes, this process is reasonable for a few reasons that will be described in the paper.

First, listening to music while studying can benefit students because it can reduce their stress levels. Research shows that listening to music can help calm an irritated mood and allow students concentrate on their studies (Fuentes). At the same time, music helps students stay distracted and entertained, allowing them to stay awake during long sessions (Fuentes). To achieve positive results, students must choose a suitable theme and not force themselves to immerse themselves in it. For example, they may listen to classical music or music without words, especially when studying complicated subjects. They can also try other genres of music, such as electronic one, jazz, rock, or popular music, for a pleasant and supportive mood (Fuentes). After all, the effective use of music during study can bring many benefits to students. Second, listening to music while studying can give students extra time to relax and allow them to develop their skills more quickly. Music can make students more flexible and enable them share their learning more creatively. In addition, listening to music can help students improve their imagination and creative skills. To enhance the benefit of listening to music during the study, students must use it with reasonable boundaries and choose the right piece that fits their learning.

Third, listening to music while studying can help students memorize information better. Research shows that listening to the songs and melodies can activate the memory network in the brain and permit students remember information better and faster (Fuentes). Listening to music helps students recover information and use it for learning. After all, listening to music while studying can likewise allow students maintain a high level of motivation. Using music while looking can help students stay awake and support their desire to learn more. Moreover, listening to music can prolong efforts to the task, as well as help stay motivated to succeed in learning.

However, listening to music while learning is not without shortcomings. Some people can force themselves to immerse themselves too much in tune and neglect the focus on learning. There is much information to learn and remember, which is very difficult to do while listening to music (Fuentes). It can distract students from learning the necessary information and interfere with the memory process. Music can also attract students more than training, which can lead to poor learning outcomes. From this perspective, instead of listening to music during their studies, students should use ways to support learning that will help them understand and memorize the material. They should try to use methods such as preparing plans and assignments, studying in groups, and discussing the material themselves (Fuentes). However, if students can learn to use music with reasonable boundaries, listening to themes during their studies can bring them significant benefits.

All things considered, listening to music while studying has many benefits for students, including reducing stress, improving learning, and supporting motivation. However, students should understand that hearing the music should be done with reasonable boundaries to avoid information overload. In general, listening to music while studying can have a positive impact on the results and motivation of students.

Fuentes, Christian, et al. (2019). “ Soundtracking: Music Listening Practices in the Digital Age ”. European Journal of Marketing , Vol. 53 No. 3, 2019 pp. 483-503. Web.

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Listening to Music While Studying: Can Eric Stewart Music Help You Write an Essay?

Probably each of us has certain rituals or tricks that help us concentrate and become our most productive selves while studying. For some, it might be a short walk or exercising. But, one of the most commonly used tricks is listening to the right kind of background music while studying and writing essays, in particular.

Does listening to music help you study? It might. Numerous studies confirm that listening to certain types of music can have a very positive effect on one’s brain, boosting cognitive functions and helping you stay focused longer.

According to our survey, 87% of school and college students prefer listening to music while writing their papers. The majority of them prefer the music by Eric Stewart, and all of them are confident that it helps them study better.

So, can listening to music really help me write my essay for me ? And, if so, what kind of essay music is the best? If these are the questions you have in mind, you’ve come to the right place because this article will tell you about all the benefits of listening to music while writing essays and the benefits of listening to Eric Stewart 10cc, in particular!

Eric Stewart Music for Writing Essays

So, why should you listen to music while studying? It is proven that listening to music while studying can have real benefits. But, the big question is what kind of music to choose?

As we mentioned earlier, a survey among students has shown that a large share of them finds music to be very helpful in studying and writing essays. Many respondents also highlighted that an important place in their playlists for studying is taken by a famous musician Eric Stewart. What makes his songs a great option for your own “essay writing music” playlist?

As over 60% of students from the institutions noted, the music by Eric Stewart 10cc makes it “easier to study.” There are several reasons for that. Since 10cc is an iconic British music band from the 70s, many students know their music pretty well. And, if you are wondering how this helps, specialists recommend listening to essay music you know in order not to get distracted by it.

Secondly, Eric Stewart and his band have a very broad repertoire that contains songs to match all tastes. This makes it easy for everyone to find something that works for them.

Finally, one more reason why respondents said they enjoy listening to Eric Stewart while studying is that his energetic and fun tunes can help you get in the right mood for essay writing and stay motivated.

Sounds good enough to try it yourself, right? But wait, there is more! Read on to learn about the real benefits of listening to music while writing essays, about the possible cons, and about a reliable essay writing service that can help even when music isn’t helping.

Pros of Using Music for Writing Essays

Unless you are writing an essay on music, it may not be very obvious to play some songs in the background while working on it. However, you might be surprised by how many benefits it can give you if you have the right playlist for custom writing and studying.

Namely, there are 3 major perks you can enjoy if you play background music while writing your academic papers:

• Better focus - Although some may find music distracting, it can be very helpful in terms of getting focused because it can help you control all the other distractions and reduce the noise.
• Improved mood - Probably no one likes writing papers because it can be very boring, stressful, and not really fun whatsoever. However, with the right playlist that includes your favorite artists like Eric Stewart and others, you can boost your mood.
• Less stress - Finally, scientists have long proven that music can help you defeat stress and reduce anxiety.

All these benefits prove that listening to music can be helpful not only when you are assigned with essay writing on music, in particular, but also in many other cases when you need to write a paper quickly, easily, and with no stress.

Cons of Listening to Essay Writing Music

Despite a huge number of possible benefits, we have to admit that listening to music while studying might not be a thing for everyone. Even if you choose good essay writing music, there is always a chance that it can do more harm than good.

Here are some of the main shortcomings of this approach that you may face:

• Unwanted distraction - Some people just can’t stand extraneous sounds during work or studies. In this case, what was supposed to help you turns into a huge distraction and can’t do any good.
• Decreased productivity - Since it can be a major distraction, listening to music while studying can have a negative effect on your productivity.
• Doesn’t work for all kinds of tasks - Finally, one more drawback is the fact that listening to music may not be helpful on all occasions as there are some tasks that require maximum concentration. For example, reading a book can be rather hard if you listen to music with words.

These are the main cons you may face. But, is there a way to avoid them, you may wonder? Probably the only way to avoid issues is to experiment and find what works best for you.

Can Music Motivate You to Write?

So, is it good to listen to music while studying? Music is proven to have a whole range of effects on the human body, both on physical and emotional levels.

When you listen to the music you actually like, it boosts your mood and can even make you more motivated. Thus, if you really enjoy Eric Stuart’s music, go for it, and it will help you stay motivated and, thus, do better with your assignments. So, the main thing students should keep in mind when deciding whether it is worth playing some background music while writing an essay is to give preference to something they like.

Also, playing your favorite songs in the background can make the process less boring. This way, you will stop perceiving essay writing as a form of torture and may finally start enjoying it, which also influences motivation.

Besides, studies show that listening to music can significantly reduce stress levels, which, as we all know, always rise when one is working on such a complex and time-consuming task as essay writing.

Thus, based on everything that has been said, the answer to the question, “can music help you study?” is definitely yes, it can!

Have Troubles With Writing Your Essay?

Although listening to music can help you write an essay, if this doesn’t work, we have a solution that will definitely help in any situation.

When you are running out of time or can’t handle your task, our essay service is all you need! Turning to our EssayService, students can pay for essay and get professionally written paper from top-level writers to boost their grades. Entrust us to write your essay on music or any other subject and we will help you succeed!

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IMPACT OF LISTENING TO MUSIC ON STUDENTS' INTEREST IN RESEARCH WRITING

Results of the study have shown that music does help in heightening the interest of students in research writing, and help boost their productivity. It is also concluded based on the findings that Pop genre of music interest the student more.

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Effects of listening to music in exam-taking environments for engineering students

• Published: 08 October 2022
• Volume 28 , pages 3977–4001, ( 2023 )

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• David Claudio   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8068-5932 1 &
• Morten Bakke 2  

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This research explores the effects of listening to music during exams for engineering college students. Students were given the option to listen to self-selected music while completing exams in three undergraduate engineering courses over four years. It was found that listening to music during an exam had no significant effect on the mean exam scores or completion times. However, when analyzing data from students who had taken exams both with and without music, it was found that these students performed significantly better in the music condition but at par with the mean score. Results indicate that allowing music during exams for students who study with music does not represent an advantage but rather an opportunity for equity in exam-taking environments.

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Hearing Loss Statistics 2024: More Common Than You Might Think

Key statistics.

• Hearing loss affects about 60.7 million Americans age 12 and older. About 15.5% (44.1 million) of American adults age 20 and older have some level of hearing loss. [1] National Center for Health Statistics. Percentage of Any Difficulty Hearing for Adults Aged 18 and Over, United States, 2019–2022. National Health Interview Survey. Found on the internet at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NHISDataQueryTool/SHS_adult/index.html [2] Goman, Adele M., et al. Addressing Estimated Hearing Loss in Adults in 2060. JAMA – Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. July 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824202/ [3] Goman, Adele M. and Lin, Frank R. Prevalence of Hearing Loss by Severity in the United States. American Journal of Public Health. October 2016. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024365/
• Of people age 65 and older, 31.1% experience hearing loss, while 40.3% of adults age 75 and older experience hearing loss. [1] National Center for Health Statistics. Percentage of Any Difficulty Hearing for Adults Aged 18 and Over, United States, 2019—2022. National Health Interview Survey. Found on the internet at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NHISDataQueryTool/SHS_adult/index.html
• Around the world, about 70 million people are deaf (complete hearing loss). [4] United Nations. Sign Languages Unite Us! Found on the internet at https://www.un.org/en/observances/sign-languages-day
• Studies show approximately 28.8 million American adults could significantly benefit from wearing a hearing aid. [5] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick Statistics About Hearing Loss. March 25, 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
• Only 16% of people age 20–69 have ever used a hearing aid, while just 30% of those age 70 and above have done so. [5] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick Statistics About Hearing Loss. March 25, 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
• Hearing loss is on the rise in the United States and is expected to almost double by the year 2060. [2] Goman, Adele M., et al. Addressing Estimated Hearing Loss in Adults in 2060. JAMA – Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. July 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824202/

Our hearing ability can greatly impact our health. And hearing loss is a common and widespread issue worldwide.

Did you know 1.5 billion people—20% of the world’s population—have some degree of hearing loss ? [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve It’s currently the third-leading chronic health condition in the United States and cases are rapidly increasing. [7] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Loud Noise Can Cause Hearing Loss. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/public_health_scientific_info.html Fortunately, half of all global cases are preventable through public education, early identification, and timely treatment. [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve

In order to understand the true scope of the issue, our Reviews Team dug into the latest research to help you protect your hearing and address suspected hearing loss.

Hearing loss facts

Hearing loss is unique to everyone and can occur at any age, although some types, causes, and symptoms are more common than others.

Types of hearing loss

The three primary types of hearing loss are conductive, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss.

Hearing loss can affect one (unilateral) or both ears (bilateral), and severity ranges from mild to profound. In the United States,

• Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) , particularly age related SNHL or presbycusis, is the most common type among older adults. [8] Cheslock, Megan and De Jesus, Orlando. Presbycusis. StatPearls. May 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559220/
• Among Americans age 12 and older, mild hearing loss was most common, affecting 37.1 million people. More than half (about 20.8 million) of those affected are adults age 60 and older. [3] Goman, Adele M. and Lin, Frank R. Prevalence of Hearing Loss by Severity in the United States. American Journal of Public Health. October 2016. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024365/
• An estimated 6.6 million Americans age 12 and older have severe to profound hearing loss in one or both ears, and 5 million are adults age 60 and older.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2021 World Report on Hearing , 1.16 billion of the 1.50 billion people who have hearing loss have mild severity. Those with profound or complete hearing loss have the lowest prevalence rates at 0.2%, although both levels still account for a large number of people (29.8 million). [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve  See Table 1 for a complete breakdown of hearing loss prevalence by severity level.

Table 1 Global number of people with hearing loss and percent prevalence by severity [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve

Signs and symptoms of hearing loss

People experience hearing loss differently, depending on the type and severity. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) highlights common signs and symptoms, including: [9] Hearing Loss in Adults. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Found on the internet at https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/hearing-loss/

• Ringing in the ears
• Speaking too loudly or quietly
• Difficulty hearing conversations clearly in noisy environments
• Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
• Increasing cell phone volume or television beyond others’ comfort levels
• Changes in behavior, like avoiding social gatherings

Tinnitus statistics

Ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus , is a type of hidden hearing loss symptom that can indicate auditory damage, often without a clinically significant difference in hearing. The most common cause of tinnitus is excessive noise exposure. [10] Zheng, Yunfang and Guan, Jianwei. Cochlear Synaptopathy: A Review of Hidden Hearing Loss. Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Disorders Treatments. March 2018. Found on the internet at https://sciforschenonline.org/journals/otorhinolaryngology-disorders-treatments/article-data/JODT-1-105/JODT-1-105.pdf According to research:

• Up to 42.7% of the general population experience tinnitus
• Up to 30% of the general population has reported that symptoms affect their daily lives
• Tinnitus and other types of hidden hearing losses are increasingly common in young adults due to recreational noise exposure
• The prevalence of tinnitus generally increases with age
• Males are more likely to experience symptoms than females, but there’s no consensus as to whether males or females experience more severe symptoms

Causes of hearing loss

Sensorineural and conductive hearing loss have different causes, and mixed hearing loss is a combination of the two.

SNHL is caused by damage to the inner ear and auditory, or cochlear, nerve. As sound waves enter the ear, nerves in the inner ear convert the incoming sound wave vibrations into electrical signals, which are then carried by the auditory nerve to the brain to be translated into sounds. Damage can be caused by: [11] Sensorineural Hearing Loss. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Found on the internet at https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/sensorineural-hearing-loss/

• Medical conditions that affect the inner ear: Head traumas, tumors, genetic syndromes, altered blood flow, infections, and inner ear conditions like Meniere’s disease can cause hearing loss. [9] Hearing Loss in Adults. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Found on the internet at https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/hearing-loss/
• Excessive noise exposure: About 40 million American adults between the ages of 20–69 have hearing loss caused by excessive noise exposure. While exposure to job-related noise is a piece of the puzzle, half of those affected did not have noisy jobs. Excessive noise is considered to be 85 decibels or louder for an extended amount of time, like using a leaf blower for two hours without ear protection. [12] Too Loud! For Too Long! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 2020. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/hearingloss/index.html
• Certain medications that are toxic to the inner ear: Common medications like Gentamicin and certain chemotherapies are known to damage the inner ear. Tell-tale side effects include tinnitus and balance issues. [13] Cone, Barbara, et al. Ototoxic Medications (Medication Effects). American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Found on the internet at https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/ototoxic-medications/

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) , 50% of people age 12–35 years are at risk of hearing loss due to excessive sound exposure in recreational settings. [7] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Loud Noise Can Cause Hearing Loss. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/public_health_scientific_info.html

Age-related hearing loss is a form of SNHL, often caused by degeneration of the inner ear’s structures over time, although additional damage due to noise, injury, health conditions, or certain medications can accelerate and worsen symptoms.

Conductive hearing loss is caused when sound signals can’t travel through the outer and middle part of the ear and is often treatable or reversible with medication or surgery. Sound obstruction can be caused by: [14] Conductive Hearing Loss. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Found on the internet at https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/conductive-hearing-loss/ [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve

• Trapped fluids: Water, ear wax, inflammation, or fluid from infections can block sound waves from passing easily through the outer and middle ear. About 50% of older adults may be affected by impacted ear wax.
• Genetic predisposition: A hole in the eardrum and altered formation of the outer and middle ear can affect how well sound waves travel through the ear.
• Otosclerosis: The hardening of sound-conducting bones in the middle ear, which prohibits sound signals from traveling through the ear uninterrupted. This condition affects more than three million middle-aged Americans age 40–60, mostly women. [15] Otosclerosis. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Found on the internet at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/otosclerosis

Meniere’s disease statistics

Meniere’s disease is a condition known to cause SNHL, vertigo, and imbalance. Although the condition is rare, Meniere’s disease can have lasting effects on hearing, and episodes of vertigo can drastically affect people’s day-to-day lives by limiting mobility and independence. The most updated review we have found reported the following statistics: [16] Wright, Tony. Meniere’s Disease. BMJ Clinical Evidence. November 2015. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4636025/

• Meniere’s disease is most common between ages 30–60
• This condition has no known cause
• Incidence ranges between 17–200 per 100,000 people each year, depending on the country
• 82% of people with Meniere’s disease develop moderate to severe hearing loss
• In 60%–80% of cases, symptoms (other than hearing loss) improve over time regardless of the treatment approach

The cost of hearing loss

Hearing loss has major economic implications worldwide . According to a recent article published in 2021:

• Global cost of hearing loss was about $980 billion
• Reducing hearing loss by 5% could lower costs by $49 billion
• More than 93% of costs were from teens and adults older than 14 years, and more than half (57%) were from low-income countries
• These figures are expected to grow, but prevention efforts and early intervention could help mitigate costs [17] McDaid, David, et al. Estimating the Global Costs of Hearing Loss. International Journal of Audiology. February 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2021.1883197

In the United States, health care costs associated with hearing loss are also high, particularly among those who go untreated. This is because untreated hearing loss is associated with higher rates of emergency department visits, hospital readmission, and longer hospital stays.

One study showed people with untreated hearing loss cost an average of $22,434 more than people without hearing loss over a 10 year period. [18] Reed, Nicholas S., et al. Trends in Health Care Costs and Utilization Associated With Untreated Hearing Loss Over 10 Years. Journal of the American Medical Association. January 2019. Found on the internet at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/2714049 Consider that more than 44 million American adults have hearing loss and only one in six Americans with hearing loss between ages 20–69 wear hearing aids (plus 30% of Americans age 70 and older). [5] National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick Statistics About Hearing Loss. March 25, 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing

Fortunately, over-the-counter hearing aids are now available in the United States, making it easier for people to access and afford proper treatment for mild to moderate hearing loss.

Hearing loss is on the rise

The number of Americans with hearing loss is expected to increase from nearly 44.1 million adults in 2020 to 73.5 million by 2060, according to research . Projected rates of increased hearing loss by age are also concerning, as some hearing loss is estimated to rise by more than 150% in some age groups. [2] Goman, Adele M., et al. Addressing Estimated Hearing Loss in Adults in 2060. JAMA – Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. July 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824202/

Globally, the WHO reported that 430 million people have at least moderate hearing loss and may benefit from a hearing aid, of which 34 million are children. By 2050, this number will rise to more than 700 million people.

The number of people with any degree of hearing loss is projected to increase from 1.5 billion to nearly 2.5 billion by 2050, according to the WHO. [19] Deafness and hearing loss. World Health Organization. February 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss

Profound hearing loss and deafness statistics

The WHO defines deafness as having profound or total hearing loss, which means they have little to no ability to hear. Many who live with deafness use sign language to communicate. [19] Deafness and hearing loss. World Health Organization. February 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss

Worldwide, 30 million people live with profound or complete hearing loss. [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve In the United States , 11 million people, or 3.6% of the population, have the same severity. [20] Deaf Demographics and Employment: Demographics Statistics. Rochester Institute of Technology. Found on the internet at https://infoguides.rit.edu/deafemploy/demographics

According to the United Nations and the World Federation of the Deaf : [4] United Nations. Sign Languages Unite Us! Found on the internet at https://www.un.org/en/observances/sign-languages-day [21] Who We Are. World Federation of the Deaf. Found on the internet at https://wfdeaf.org/who-we-are/

• More than 130 countries host local and international advocacy events to support global human rights for those with partial and total hearing loss, including access to care and early intervention.
• More than 80% of people with total hearing loss live in developing countries.
• More than 300 different sign languages are used worldwide.

Average hearing loss by age

Currently, 55.4% of American adults with hearing loss are 70 years and older. Projections show this number will increase to 67.4% in the next four decades. Looking closer at specific age ranges in Tables 2 and 3, we can see more than a 156% projected increase in mild to complete hearing loss in those age 80 and above. [2] Goman, Adele M., et al. Addressing Estimated Hearing Loss in Adults in 2060. JAMA – Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. July 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824202/

Table 2 40-year projected increase in mild hearing loss among Americans [2] Goman, Adele M., et al. Addressing Estimated Hearing Loss in Adults in 2060. JAMA – Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. July 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824202/

Table 3 40-year projected increase in moderate to complete hearing loss among Americans [2] Goman, Adele M., et al. Addressing Estimated Hearing Loss in Adults in 2060. JAMA – Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. July 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824202/

Hearing loss prevalence by state

The (CDC) released a report documenting hearing loss prevalence across all U.S. states and the District of Columbia between 2014 and 2016 (see Table 4). Most states (66%) had a prevalence that met or exceeded the national average of 15.9%. [22] Blackwell, DL and Norris, T. Any Hearing Loss by State: Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2014–2016. National Center for Health Statistics. October 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/health_policy/disability.htm

West Virginia, Oregon, and Montana were the states where hearing loss was most prevalent, while the District of Columbia, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland were the states where it was least prevalent.

The data also revealed regional trends in hearing loss prevalence:

• Four out of the five states with the most prevalence were located in the western region of the United States
• Eight of the 10 states (including the District of Columbia) with the least prevalence were on the east coast
• Of the 18 states below the national average, 13 were on the east coast
• 63.6% of states that meet or exceed the national average lie west of the Mississippi River

Table 4 Estimated prevalence of hearing loss by state [22] Blackwell, DL and Norris, T. Any Hearing Loss by State: Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2014–2016. National Center for Health Statistics. October 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/health_policy/disability.htm

Hearing Loss Around The World

Nearly 430 million people globally have at least moderate hearing loss and would greatly benefit from a hearing aid.

The World Report on Hearing showed the Western Pacific region (including Australia, China, Japan, and New Zealand) accounted for 136.5 million people—the highest contribution of any region—with a 7.1% prevalence (see Table 5). North and South America accounted for 62.7 million people with a 6.2% prevalence. The U.S. national average prevalence rate of 15.9% is more than double the prevalence rate of the Western Pacific region. [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve

Table 5 Prevalence and cost of moderate hearing loss or greater by global regions [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve

The report also showed that hearing loss prevalence among the same 430 million people differed between income groups. Upper middle- and high-income groups had the highest prevalence at 6.2% and 7.5%, respectively (see Table 6). But of the $980 billion cost of unaddressed hearing loss, 53% came from low- and middle-income countries. [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve

Table 6 Global prevalence of moderate hearing loss or greater by relative income [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve

Gender and hearing loss

Gender analyses on hearing loss historically use a gender binary to report data.

The World Report on Hearing stated that among nearly 430 million people with moderate hearing loss or greater, males had a slightly higher prevalence than females. About 217 million males and 211 million females had at least moderate hearing loss at a 5.6% and 5.5% prevalence rate, respectively. [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve

The CDC reported an even larger prevalence gap of 22.7% between American male and female adults. In 2022, 17.6 million males age 18 and older reported some degree of hearing loss, while 13.6 million females reported the same.[1] According to a CDC National Health Interview Survey , only 7.1% of adults age 45 and older have used a hearing aid, with usage higher among men than women. [23] Madans, Jennifer H., et al. Hearing Difficulties Among Adults: United States, 2019. National Center for Health Statistics. July 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db414.htm

The impact of hearing loss

Unaddressed hearing loss has a significant impact on communication, learning, employment, and overall health across all ages.

Hearing loss and educational outcomes

In children, unaddressed hearing loss can affect the ability to learn communication skills, subsequently affecting academic progression and career planning into adulthood. [24] Yong, Michael, et al. How the World’s Children Hear: A Narrative Review of School Hearing Screening Programs Globally. OTO Open. May 2020. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7238315/ Early detection and treatment, ideally before the age of six months, are essential in preventing developmental issues. [25] Yoshinaga-Itano, C. and Apuzzo ML. Identification of Hearing Loss After Age 18 Months is Not Early Enough. American Annals of the Deaf. December 1998. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9893323/

Similarly, American adults with unaddressed hearing loss achieve less education and have higher unemployment rates than those with unaffected hearing. People with unaddressed hearing loss are half as likely to achieve higher education, and those who are employed historically earn lower wages . [26] Jung, David and Bhattacharyya, Neil. Association of Hearing Loss with Decreased Employment and Income among Adults in the United States. Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology. December 2012. Found on the internet at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/000348941212101201?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200 pubmed [27] Emmett, Susan D. and Francis, Howard W. The Socioeconomic Impact of Hearing Loss in U.S. Adults. Otology & Neurotology. March 2016. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4466103/ [28] Idstad, Mariann and Engdahl, Bo. Childhood Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Educational Attainment in Adulthood: Results from the HUNT Study. Ear Hear. November 2019. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30946138/

Hearing loss and health outcomes

Hearing loss has a large impact on mental and emotional health. Studies have found that those with varying degrees of unaddressed hearing loss experienced higher rates of social isolation, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. [29] Social isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. The National Academies Press. February 2020. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32510896/ [30] Shukla, Aishwarya, et al. Hearing Loss, Loneliness, and Social Isolation: a Systematic Review. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. March 2020. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32151193/ Further consequences included social withdrawal and cognitive decline , particularly in older adults and people in rural areas far from treatment and resources. [31] Hay-McCutcheon, Marcia J., et al. Positive Social Interaction and Hearing Loss in Older Adults Living in Rural and Urban Communities. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing. August 2018. Found on the internet at https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2018_JSLHR-H-17-0485?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed [32] Rutherford, Bret R., et al. Sensation and Psychiatry: Linking Age-Related Hearing Loss to Late-Life Depression and Cognitive Decline. American Journal of Psychiatry. March 2018. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29202654/

• Hearing loss severity is linked to higher rates of cognitive decline. [32] Rutherford, Bret R., et al. Sensation and Psychiatry: Linking Age-Related Hearing Loss to Late-Life Depression and Cognitive Decline. American Journal of Psychiatry. March 2018. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29202654/
• Mild, moderate, and severe hearing loss increases the risk for dementia by two-, three-, and five-fold, respectively. [33] Lin, Frank R., et al. Hearing Loss and Incident Dementia. Journal of the American Medical Association. February 2011. Found on the internet at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/802291
• Compared to those with no hearing loss, those with at least moderate hearing loss have 23% lower odds of “emotional vitality” or happiness. [34] Contrera, Kevin J., et al. Association of Hearing Impairment and Emotional Vitality in Older Adults. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. May 2016. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5013924/
• Those who report hearing aid use at least five hours per week have significantly lower odds of depression. [35] Mener, David J., et al. Hearing Loss and Depression in Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. September 2013. Found on the internet at https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.12429

Comparing research to clinical practice

Our Reviews Team asked Ruth Reisman , audiologist and co-founder of Urban Hearing in Brooklyn, New York, about her take on these statistics.

When we asked her about the expected rise in hearing loss cases, she responded, “As far as my private practices are concerned, my schedule is typically full, but I don’t believe the volume has increased any more than it’s been in the past.”

In a recent conversation with a colleague, she exchanged thoughts on how shocking it is that more people aren’t caring for their hearing in the same way teeth and eyes are cared for. “This may be because there is insufficient education or awareness surrounding hearing loss and its effects on the person’s quality of life,” Reisman said. “Oftentimes, people don’t believe it’s important enough until they lose their hearing.”

Regular visits to an audiologist could help catch reversible causes of hearing loss. Reisman estimated that 50% of the patients who visit her clinic for suspected hearing loss actually had the conductive type and just needed to address clogged ears, like excess ear wax. The other 50% included sensorineural hearing loss that would benefit from a hearing aid. Mixed hearing loss was not common in her practice, she said.

Consistent with research, Reisman said most of her patients have mild to moderate hearing loss. But most of these people are young- to middle-aged. Unfortunately, younger adults are more likely to be evaluated than older adults. “The reason is likely due to the fact they feel it’s affecting their quality of life,” she said, whether they’re having challenges hearing in various environments, or due to their active lifestyles. “And when told they have a mild hearing loss, they don’t necessarily take the next steps to treat the hearing loss.”

The health consequences of untreated hearing loss are apparent in clinical practice. Reisman told us that people with hearing loss have expressed feelings of isolation and challenges communicating with family members. “Some people also feel they need to stop working due to the challenges they experience. This can affect self-esteem and identity, which leads to potential depressive symptoms.”

Hearing loss prevention

According to the WHO, up to 50% of hearing loss can be prevented through lifestyle changes and public health initiatives. The monetary government investment, while steep, can be rewarding. An estimated $16 return can be expected for every dollar invested in hearing care services over a 10 year period. The WHO highlights key ways to prevent new cases or mitigate severity: [6] World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve [19] Deafness and hearing loss. World Health Organization. February 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss

• Choosing to vaccinate children against diseases that may cause hearing loss, like rubella and measles
• Educating expectant mothers on proper prenatal care
• Implementing occupational initiatives to lower noise and chemical exposure that can damage hearing over time
• Teaching safe listening in recreational settings like concerts
• Avoiding medications known to cause hearing loss, when possible

Reisman shared the advice she gives to patients trying to prevent hearing loss or worsening symptoms. “Using generic hearing protection from the pharmacy will help to preserve hearing when exposed to loud noise, like during concerts or in loud work environments.” Her advice holds true for people who already have hearing loss, and who may not notice when noise is loud enough to be harmful. “Those with hearing loss are more susceptible to damage if exposed to loud noise, so they have an even higher obligation to wear hearing protection.”

Visit the Medicare Advocacy Organization and the Hearing Loss Association of America to learn how you can support initiatives that improve access to hearing care nationwide.

Bottom line

The prevalence of hearing loss is increasing rapidly, particularly among older adults. Prevention efforts are vital for protecting the global population from this growing health crisis and its consequential impact on economies, development, communication, and mental health.

If you suspect hearing loss, visit your local audiologist for a full examination. Ask your doctor about your treatment options and, if appropriate, consider buying one of the best hearing aids on the market so you can return to hearing the world as it should be.

Have questions about this article? Email us at [email protected] .

• National Center for Health Statistics. Percentage of Any Difficulty Hearing for Adults Aged 18 and Over, United States, 2019–2022. National Health Interview Survey. Found on the internet at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/NHISDataQueryTool/SHS_adult/index.html
• Goman, Adele M., et al. Addressing Estimated Hearing Loss in Adults in 2060. JAMA – Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery. July 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5824202/
• Goman, Adele M. and Lin, Frank R. Prevalence of Hearing Loss by Severity in the United States. American Journal of Public Health. October 2016. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024365/
• United Nations. Sign Languages Unite Us! Found on the internet at https://www.un.org/en/observances/sign-languages-day
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Quick Statistics About Hearing Loss. March 25, 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/statistics/quick-statistics-hearing
• World Report on Hearing. World Health Organization. 2021. Found on the internet at https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1334317/retrieve
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Loud Noise Can Cause Hearing Loss. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/public_health_scientific_info.html
• Cheslock, Megan and De Jesus, Orlando. Presbycusis. StatPearls. May 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559220/
• Hearing Loss in Adults. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Found on the internet at https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/hearing-loss/
• Zheng, Yunfang and Guan, Jianwei. Cochlear Synaptopathy: A Review of Hidden Hearing Loss. Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Disorders Treatments. March 2018. Found on the internet at https://sciforschenonline.org/journals/otorhinolaryngology-disorders-treatments/article-data/JODT-1-105/JODT-1-105.pdf
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Sensorineural Hearing Loss. Found on the internet at https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/sensorineural-hearing-loss/
• Too Loud! For Too Long! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 2020. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/hearingloss/index.html
• Cone, Barbara, et al. Ototoxic Medications (Medication Effects). American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Found on the internet at https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/ototoxic-medications/
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Conductive Hearing Loss. =Found on the internet at https://www.asha.org/public/hearing/conductive-hearing-loss/
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Otosclerosis. Found on the internet at https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/otosclerosis
• Wright, Tony. Meniere’s Disease. BMJ Clinical Evidence. November 2015. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4636025/
• McDaid, David, et al. Estimating the Global Costs of Hearing Loss. International Journal of Audiology. February 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2021.1883197
• Reed, Nicholas S., et al. Trends in Health Care Costs and Utilization Associated With Untreated Hearing Loss Over 10 Years. Journal of the American Medical Association. January 2019. Found on the internet at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/2714049
• World Health Organization. Deafness and hearing loss. February 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.who.int/health-topics/hearing-loss
• Rochester Institute of Technology. Deaf Demographics and Employment: Demographics Statistics. Found on the internet at https://infoguides.rit.edu/deafemploy/demographics
• World Federation of the Deaf. Who We Are. Found on the internet at https://wfdeaf.org/who-we-are/
• Blackwell, DL. and Norris, T. Any Hearing Loss by State: Estimates from the National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2014–2016. National Center for Health Statistics. October 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/health_policy/disability.htm
• Madans, Jennifer H., et al. Hearing Difficulties Among Adults: United States, 2019. National Center for Health Statistics. July 2021. Found on the internet at https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db414.htm
• Yong, Michael, et al. How the World’s Children Hear: A Narrative Review of School Hearing Screening Programs Globally. OTO Open. May 2020. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7238315/
• Yoshinaga-Itano, C. and Apuzzo ML. Identification of Hearing Loss After Age 18 Months is Not Early Enough. American Annals of the Deaf. December 1998. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9893323/
• Jung, David and Bhattacharyya, Neil. Association of Hearing Loss with Decreased Employment and Income among Adults in the United States. Annals of Otology, Rhinology, and Laryngology. December 2012. Found on the internet at https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/000348941212101201?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
• Emmett, Susan D. and Francis, Howard W. The Socioeconomic Impact of Hearing Loss in U.S. Adults. Otology & Neurotology. March 2016. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4466103/
• Idstad, Mariann and Engdahl, Bo. Childhood Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Educational Attainment in Adulthood: Results from the HUNT Study. Ear Hear. November 2019. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30946138/
• The National Academies Press. Social isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Opportunities for the Health Care System. February 2020. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32510896/
• Shukla, Aishwarya, et al. Hearing Loss, Loneliness, and Social Isolation: a Systematic Review. Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. March 2020. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32151193/
• Hay-McCutcheon, Marcia J., et al. Positive Social Interaction and Hearing Loss in Older Adults Living in Rural and Urban Communities. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing. August 2018. Found on the internet at https://pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/2018_JSLHR-H-17-0485?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
• Rutherford, Bret R., et al. Sensation and Psychiatry: Linking Age-Related Hearing Loss to Late-Life Depression and Cognitive Decline. American Journal of Psychiatry. March 2018. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29202654/
• Lin, Frank R., et al. Hearing Loss and Incident Dementia. Journal of the American Medical Association. February 2011. Found on the internet at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/802291
• Contrera, Kevin J., et al. Association of Hearing Impairment and Emotional Vitality in Older Adults. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences. May 2016. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5013924/
• Mener, David J., et al. Hearing Loss and Depression in Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. September 2013. Found on the internet at https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jgs.12429